Business Economics at University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business/Managerial Economics
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
60
Optimistic
59
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings
$44,277/yr (-17% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (105,700 openings/yr)
ROI
12.3x earnings multiple (3.9x 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 | $733K | $702K | $619K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.9x | 12.3x | 10.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.1x | 3.9x | 3.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 66% | 58% | 42% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 60 | 59 | 58 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$56,948
Out-of-state: $180,056 (3.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$74,617
69% growth from Year 1
About University of California-Irvine
A 26% acceptance rate puts University of California-Irvine in competitive admissions territory, with 29,494 students enrolled in Irvine, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Irvine →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-Irvine
Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does University of California-Irvine's Business Economics program score?
A score of 59/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of California-Irvine trails the majority of Business Economics programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Business Economics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Business Economics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 53% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Business Economics earnings lower at University of California-Irvine?
Lower starting pay at University of California-Irvine may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →