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Business/Managerial Economics at University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
59 /100
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)
Ranked #47 of 81 Business/Managerial Economics programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business/Managerial 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)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,360
10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$74,617
69% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $44,277 per year, Business/Managerial Economics graduates from University of California-Irvine earn below the $53,330 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 12.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 53% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

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 #47 out of 81 programs, University of California-Irvine's financial outcomes for Business/Managerial Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $44,277 to $74,617 over five years (69% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

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
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 81 schools offering Business/Managerial Economics →

Business/Managerial Economics at Other Schools

Washington University in St Louis ($106,701) University of California-Los Angeles ($83,604) Villanova University ($82,212) Lehigh University ($81,796) Brigham Young University ($75,227) Bentley University ($68,627) Seton Hall University ($66,877) Ashford University ($66,360)

Other Majors at University of California-Irvine

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($87,715) Computer Science ($82,161) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($80,412) Computer Engineering ($79,812) Civil Engineering ($73,835) Management Information Systems and Services ($68,786) Mechanical Engineering ($67,633) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($67,425)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Business/Managerial Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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/Managerial Economics program score?
A score of 59/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of California-Irvine trails the majority of Business/Managerial Economics programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Business/Managerial Economics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Business/Managerial 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/Managerial 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 →