Business Economics at University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business/Managerial Economics
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
69
Optimistic
68
Base Case
64
Pessimistic
Earnings
$54,546/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (105,700 openings/yr)
ROI
13.3x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business Economics graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $859K | $813K | $699K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 14.1x | 13.3x | 11.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.7x | 4.4x | 3.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 66% | 58% | 42% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 69 | 68 | 64 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$60,988
Out-of-state: $184,096 (4.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,917
2.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$91,429
68% growth from Year 1
About University of California-Davis
With a 42% acceptance rate, University of California-Davis is moderately selective, with 31,777 students enrolled in Davis, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Davis →Top Career Paths
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980/yr
Economists
$115,440/yr
Financial risk specialists
$106,000/yr
Compare & Explore
Business Economics at Other Schools
Other Majors at University of California-Davis
Consider the Trade Route?
Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business Economics at University of California-Davis?
A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Business Economics field.
Will AI replace Business Economics careers?
With 53% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $698,866 in decade earnings vs $859,402 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of California-Davis's Business Economics program stand out?
Ranked #15 of 81 programs nationally, University of California-Davis lands in the top 25%. 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 →