Linguistic & Comparative at California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
28 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
28
Optimistic
28
Base Case
25
Pessimistic
Earnings $18,393/yr (-34% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 17.9x earnings multiple (6.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #52 of 79 Linguistic & Comparative programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Linguistic & Comparative graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $502K $501K $466K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.9x 17.9x 16.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.6x 6.6x 6.2x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 28%
DegreeOutlook Score 28 28 25

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,032
Out-of-state: $75,552 (6.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$35,724
-27% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,543
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,052
118% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $18,393 place California State University-Long Beach below the $27,797 national median for Linguistic & Comparative — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 17.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $11,543 debt-to-$18,393 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #52 out of 79 programs, California State University-Long Beach's financial outcomes for Linguistic & Comparative trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $18,393 to $40,052 over five years (118% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Long Beach

A 47% admission rate makes California State University-Long Beach accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with 34,131 students enrolled in Long Beach, CA. With 49% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Long Beach →

Top Career Paths

Social scientists and related workers, all other $100,340/yr
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary $78,270/yr
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary $77,010/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Linguistic & Comparative at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Long Beach

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Long Beach's Linguistic & Comparative program score?
This program scores 28/100 — on the lower end for Linguistic & Comparative. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Linguistic & Comparative to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Linguistic & Comparative careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Linguistic & Comparative earnings lower at California State University-Long Beach?
Lower starting pay at California State University-Long Beach may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →