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Economics at University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
65 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
66
Optimistic
65
Base Case
63
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,087/yr (-18% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 12.2x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #187 of 351 Economics programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $717K $694K $604K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.6x 12.2x 10.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.0x 3.9x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 66 65 63

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 (3.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,360
10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,004
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$73,054
66% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $44,087 per year, Economics graduates from University of California-Irvine earn below the $53,966 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 12.2x 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 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $15,004 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #187 out of 351 programs, University of California-Irvine's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $44,087 to $73,054 over five years (66% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Irvine

A 26% acceptance rate puts University of California-Irvine in competitive admissions territory, with 29,494 students enrolled in Irvine, CA.

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

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
Economists $115,440/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 351 schools offering Economics →

Economics at Other Schools

Harvard University ($103,993) Princeton University ($103,041) Duke University ($98,649) Stanford University ($98,104) Dartmouth College ($94,675) University of Chicago ($92,075) Amherst College ($90,568) Claremont McKenna College ($89,505)

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)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Irvine's Economics program score?
A score of 65/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of California-Irvine trails the majority of Economics programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Economics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Economics 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 Economics earnings lower at University of California-Irvine?
Lower starting pay at University of California-Irvine 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 →