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Social Sciences, General at University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
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)
Ranked #59 of 76 Social Sciences, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Social Sciences, General 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)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,360
10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,338
5.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$44,687
28% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $34,871/yr, roughly in line with the $38,652 national median for Social Sciences, General. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

At 7.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 45% task exposure — and the 2% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $34,871 far exceeding the $16,338 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #59 out of 76 programs, University of California-Irvine's financial outcomes for Social Sciences, General trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

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
View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 76 schools offering Social Sciences, General →

Social Sciences, General at Other Schools

Mercer University ($61,612) Vanderbilt University ($61,389) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($57,538) Harvard University ($56,540) Upper Iowa University ($56,221) Campbell University ($50,653) University of Maryland Global Campus ($50,557) New York University ($49,016)

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)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Social Sciences, General trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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, General program score?
This program scores 43/100 — on the lower end for Social Sciences, General. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Social Sciences, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Social Sciences, General 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 →