Mathematics at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,447/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (65% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (104,900 openings/yr)
ROI 12.1x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #83 of 253 Mathematics programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $758K $726K $611K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.7x 12.1x 10.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.1x 4.0x 3.3x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 65% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 61 57

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 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,300
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,000
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$75,626
63% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,447 track close to the $50,797 national median for Mathematics programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 12.1x 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 — 65% task exposure — and the 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $17,000 in median debt against $46,447 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #83 out of 253 programs, University of California-Santa Barbara's Mathematics offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $46,447 to $75,626 over five years (63% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

University of California-Santa Barbara admits 28% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, 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
Mathematicians $121,680/yr
Data scientists $112,590/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Mathematics at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of California-Santa Barbara

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

How does University of California-Santa Barbara's Mathematics program score?
This program scores 61/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Mathematics graduates.
How vulnerable is Mathematics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Mathematics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 65% 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 →