Home › University of California-Davis › Engineering, General

Engineering, General at University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $82,956/yr (20% vs median)

AI Risk High (46% exposed)

Job Market Medium (27,900 openings/yr)

ROI 17.1x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #1 of 47 Engineering, General programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Engineering, General graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$1,095K	$1,043K	$880K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.0x	17.1x	14.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.9x	5.7x	4.8x
Probability of Field Employment	69%	63%	47%
DegreeOutlook Score	73	72	70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$60,988

Out-of-state: $184,096 (5.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$61,152

-0% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,939

2.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$124,810

50% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-Davis's Engineering, General 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, General programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Engineering, General'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, General 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.

About University of California-Davis

University of California-Davis's 42% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with 31,777 students enrolled in Davis, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Davis →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr

Engineers, all other $117,750/yr

Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr

View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Engineering, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of California-Davis

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Engineering, General at University of California-Davis?

This program scores 72/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Engineering, General nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Engineering, General careers?

With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $879,817 in decade earnings vs $1,094,891 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of California-Davis's Engineering, General program stand out?

Ranked #1 of 47 programs nationally, University of California-Davis lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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