Business Administrationat University of California-Irvine
Graduates earn $48,786/yr in their first year — about 4.0% above the national Business Administration average. Base-case 10-year earnings $738K; scenarios range from $642K to $760K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Irvine
First-year earnings of $48,786 track close to the $46,892 national median for Business Administration programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business Administration programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Business Administration's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 16% gap from the optimistic case.
At $13,000 in median debt against $48,786 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
Ranked #87 of 1,169 programs, University of California-Irvine's Business Administration program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.
Five-year earnings of $89,501 show a 83% jump from the $48,786 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UC Irvine's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Business Administration
How UC Irvine stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC Irvine
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Irvine, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Business Administration offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Business Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Business Administration at UC Irvine
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business Administration at University of California-Irvine?
This program scores 75/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Business Administration nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Business Administration careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $641,605 in decade earnings vs $760,253 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.