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Area Studies at University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
23 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
24
Optimistic
23
Base Case
24
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,897/yr (-13% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Small (1,100 openings/yr)
ROI 7.5x earnings multiple (2.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #51 of 66 Area Studies programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $417K $426K $414K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 7.3x 7.5x 7.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.3x 2.4x 2.3x
Probability of Field Employment 55% 48% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 24 23 24

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$56,948
Out-of-state: $180,056 (2.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,360
10% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $30,897 track close to the $35,677 national median for Area Studies programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

At 7.5x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 1% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #51 out of 66 programs, University of California-Irvine's financial outcomes for Area Studies trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About University of California-Irvine

University of California-Irvine admits 26% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, serving a student body of 29,494 in Irvine, CA.

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

Top Career Paths

Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary $84,290/yr
View all 1 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 66 schools offering Area Studies →

Area Studies at Other Schools

Yale University ($55,618) Nevada State University ($54,607) William & Mary ($53,779) University of California-Berkeley ($50,728) Miami University-Oxford ($50,637) Amherst College ($49,149) University of Maryland Global Campus ($48,650) Dartmouth College ($48,565)

Other Majors at University of California-Irvine

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($87,715) Computer Science ($82,161) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($80,412) Computer Engineering ($79,812) Civil Engineering ($73,835) Management Information Systems and Services ($68,786) Mechanical Engineering ($67,633) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($67,425)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Irvine's Area Studies program score?
This program scores 23/100 — on the lower end for Area Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Area Studies to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Area Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% 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 →