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Sociology at California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,092/yr (-1% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)

ROI 20.1x earnings multiple (7.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #39 of 414 Sociology programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Sociology graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$552K	$547K	$505K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	20.2x	20.1x	18.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.4x	7.3x	6.8x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	44%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	50	49	47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$27,252

Out-of-state: $74,792 (7.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$16,452

40% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$12,177

4.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,833

61% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $34,092/yr, Sociology graduates from California State University-Los Angeles land near the $34,392 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 20.1x 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 — 42% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $12,177 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

A #39 ranking out of 414 Sociology programs nationally puts California State University-Los Angeles in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $34,092 to $54,833 over five years (61% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Los Angeles

With 92% of applicants admitted, California State University-Los Angeles prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 21,478 students in Los Angeles, CA. With 66% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $16,452 over four years — 40% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Los Angeles →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Sociologists $101,690/yr

Sociology teachers, postsecondary $82,540/yr

View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Sociology at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Los Angeles

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Los Angeles's Sociology program score?

This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Sociology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Sociology to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Sociology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 42% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →