Applied Mathematicsat University of California-Los Angeles
Graduates earn $61,188/yr in their first year — about 2.0% below the national Applied Mathematics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $870K; scenarios range from $710K to $912K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UCLA
The initial earnings profile for UCLA's Applied Mathematics program, while strong, can appear slightly below the national average for similar programs despite the university's elite reputation. This often reflects the diverse paths students take. While many leverage their rigorous training for immediate roles in tech, finance, or data science within the bustling Southern California economy, others pursue advanced degrees or careers in research, government, or even entertainment analytics, where salary trajectories can be more gradual.
Your UCLA education provides an exceptional foundation in complex problem-solving and modeling, highly valued by employers across industries from aerospace to biotech. While AI risk appears high for some mathematical roles, your ability to *develop* and *interpret* models, not just execute them, is paramount. Focus heavily on internships in your target industry – whether it's quantitative finance, data science, or engineering – to translate your theoretical knowledge into practical, in-demand skills and accelerate your career trajectory.
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 UCLA'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 Applied Mathematics
How UCLA stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UCLA
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UCLA, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Applied Mathematics at UCLA
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Applied Mathematics at University of California-Los Angeles?
This program scores 72/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Applied Mathematics nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Applied Mathematics careers?
With 61% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $709,831 in decade earnings vs $911,944 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of California-Los Angeles's Applied Mathematics program stand out?
Ranked #5 of 44 programs nationally, University of California-Los Angeles lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.