Program Analysis
University of California-Davis's Engineering graduates start at $82,956/yr — above the $69,222 national average, though not by a wide margin.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Engineering programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Engineering's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 20% gap from the optimistic case.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $14,939 in median debt clears quickly against $82,956 in annual earnings.
At #1 of 47 nationally, this is a top-5% Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $124,810 show a 50% jump from the $82,956 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.