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Urban Studies at University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Urban Studies/Affairs
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,385/yr (-16% vs median)
AI Risk High (37% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (111,900 openings/yr)
ROI 10.5x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #13 of 25 Urban Studies/Affairs programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Urban Studies graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $607K $599K $549K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.7x 10.5x 9.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.4x 3.3x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 44% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 45 44 44

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 (3.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,360
10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,122
5.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,232
81% growth from Year 1

About University of California-Irvine

University of California-Irvine admits 26% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, with 29,494 students enrolled in Irvine, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Irvine →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Sociologists $101,690/yr
Urban and regional planners $83,720/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 25 schools offering Urban Studies →

Urban Studies at Other Schools

University of California-Berkeley ($58,171) San Francisco State University ($50,008) Brown University ($48,731) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($47,585) University of Washington-Tacoma Campus ($47,585) California State University-Northridge ($46,826) University of Nevada-Las Vegas ($46,712) Rutgers University-Camden ($44,263)

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)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Irvine's Urban Studies program score?
This program scores 44/100 — on the lower end for Urban Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Urban Studies to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Urban Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 37% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Urban Studies 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 →