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Ecology & Evolution at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
28 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
29
Optimistic
28
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,258/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Large (72,700 openings/yr)
ROI 8.9x earnings multiple (2.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #35 of 64 Ecology & Evolution programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Ecology & Evolution graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $533K $530K $492K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.9x 8.9x 8.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.9x 2.9x 2.7x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 49% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 29 28 30

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,860
Out-of-state: $182,968 (2.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,300
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,750
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,625
70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-Santa Barbara's Ecology & Evolution program produces graduates earning $29,258/yr — within striking distance of the $29,875 national average for this field.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.9x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Ecology & Evolution's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $12,750 in median debt clears quickly against $29,258 in annual earnings.

Ranked #35 of 64 Ecology & Evolution programs, University of California-Santa Barbara falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $49,625 show a 70% jump from the $29,258 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

Admission to University of California-Santa Barbara is competitive, with 28% of applicants accepted, serving a student body of 23,205 in Santa Barbara, CA.

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

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
Statisticians $103,300/yr
View all 13 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 64 schools offering Ecology & Evolution →

Ecology & Evolution at Other Schools

Princeton University ($53,038) New York University ($41,024) California State University-San Marcos ($40,875) Rutgers University-New Brunswick ($39,491) Siena College ($37,789) University of Colorado Boulder ($37,184) University of Maryland-College Park ($36,375) East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania ($35,762)

Other Majors at University of California-Santa Barbara

Computer Science ($107,776) Computer Engineering ($91,387) Mechanical Engineering ($81,108) Chemical Engineering ($79,737) Economics ($66,334) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($66,099) Applied Mathematics ($59,638) Statistics ($55,110)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Ecology & Evolution at University of California-Santa Barbara?
A score of 28/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Ecology & Evolution. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Ecology & Evolution careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $491,573 in decade earnings vs $533,102 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →