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Zoology/Animal Biology at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
37
Optimistic
36
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,633/yr (32% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Medium (29,200 openings/yr)
ROI 8.8x earnings multiple (2.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #16 of 55 Zoology/Animal Biology programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Zoology/Animal Biology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $530K $527K $488K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.9x 8.8x 8.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.9x 2.9x 2.7x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 37 36 32

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
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,012
41% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $37,633 per year, Zoology/Animal Biology graduates from University of California-Santa Barbara significantly outpace the $28,448 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

At 8.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 46% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Ranked #16 out of 55 programs, University of California-Santa Barbara's Zoology/Animal Biology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $37,633 to $53,012 shows 41% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

A 28% acceptance rate puts University of California-Santa Barbara in competitive admissions territory, 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
Biological scientists, all other $93,330/yr
Biological science teachers, postsecondary $83,460/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 55 schools offering Zoology/Animal Biology →

Zoology/Animal Biology at Other Schools

San Francisco State University ($41,565) University of Connecticut ($35,618) University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus ($35,618) University of Connecticut-Avery Point ($35,618) University of Connecticut-Stamford ($35,618) University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus ($35,618) University of Maine ($35,130) Berry College ($33,258)

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)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Zoology/Animal Biology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Zoology/Animal Biology program score?
This program scores 36/100 — on the lower end for Zoology/Animal Biology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Zoology/Animal Biology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Zoology/Animal Biology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% 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 →