Social Sciences at University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Social Sciences, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
43
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings
$34,871/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk
High (45% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (318,400 openings/yr)
ROI
7.8x earnings multiple (2.5x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Social Sciences graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $436K | $442K | $427K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 7.7x | 7.8x | 7.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 2.4x | 2.5x | 2.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 61% | 54% | 43% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 43 | 43 | 48 |
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 (2.5x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,338
5.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$44,687
28% growth from Year 1
About University of California-Irvine
University of California-Irvine accepts 26% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, one of the larger campuses at 29,494 students in Irvine, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Irvine →Top Career Paths
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Statisticians
$103,300/yr
Sociologists
$101,690/yr
Compare & Explore
Social Sciences at Other Schools
Other Majors at University of California-Irvine
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does University of California-Irvine's Social Sciences program score?
This program scores 43/100 — on the lower end for Social Sciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Social Sciences to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Social Sciences careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 45% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →