Economicsat University of California-Irvine
Graduates earn $44,087/yr in their first year — about 18.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $694K; scenarios range from $604K to $717K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Irvine
At $44,087 per year, Economics graduates from University of California-Irvine earn below the $53,966 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.
The 12.2x 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 — 56% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $15,004 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #187 out of 351 programs, University of California-Irvine's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth from $44,087 to $73,054 over five years (66% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.
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 Economics
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 Economics offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Economics at UC Irvine
How does University of California-Irvine's Economics program score?
A score of 65/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of California-Irvine trails the majority of Economics programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Economics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Economics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are 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.