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Urban Studies/Affairs at University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
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/Affairs 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

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $34,385/yr fall 16% below the $40,998 national median for Urban Studies/Affairs. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 10.5x 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 — 37% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $15,122 in median debt against $34,385 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #13 out of 25 programs, University of California-Irvine's financial outcomes for Urban Studies/Affairs trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $34,385 to $62,232 over five years (81% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

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/Affairs →

Urban Studies/Affairs 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) Portland State University ($45,870)

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/Affairs program score?
This program scores 44/100 — on the lower end for Urban Studies/Affairs. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Urban Studies/Affairs to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Urban Studies/Affairs 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/Affairs 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 →