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Urban Studies/Affairs at University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $58,171/yr (42% vs median)

AI Risk High (37% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (111,900 openings/yr)

ROI 13.8x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #1 of 25 Urban Studies/Affairs programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$848K	$822K	$728K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.3x	13.8x	12.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.6x	4.5x	4.0x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	44%	36%
DegreeOutlook Score	69	69	65

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$59,400

Out-of-state: $182,508 (4.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,916

-1% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

3.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$105,067

81% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $58,171 per year, Urban Studies/Affairs graduates from University of California-Berkeley significantly outpace the $40,998 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Urban Studies/Affairs programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Urban Studies/Affairs's typical career paths, with 37% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $15,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #1 of 25 nationally, this is a top-5% Urban Studies/Affairs program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $105,067 show a 81% jump from the $58,171 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Berkeley

With just 12% of applicants admitted, University of California-Berkeley ranks among the nation's most selective schools, one of the larger campuses at 33,073 students in Berkeley, CA.

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

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Sociologists $101,690/yr

Urban and regional planners $83,720/yr

View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Urban Studies/Affairs at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of California-Berkeley

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Urban Studies/Affairs at University of California-Berkeley?

A score of 69/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Urban Studies/Affairs field.

Will AI replace Urban Studies/Affairs careers?

With 37% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $728,035 in decade earnings vs $848,160 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of California-Berkeley's Urban Studies/Affairs program stand out?

Ranked #1 of 25 programs nationally, University of California-Berkeley lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →