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Economics at University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $62,091/yr (15% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)

ROI 16.0x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #11 of 351 Economics programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$921K	$877K	$729K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.8x	16.0x	13.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.2x	4.9x	4.1x
Probability of Field Employment	66%	60%	41%
DegreeOutlook Score	80	79	75

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$54,988

Out-of-state: $178,096 (4.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$56,052

-2% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

2.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$100,784

62% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-Los Angeles's Economics graduates start at $62,091/yr — above the $53,966 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Economics programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Economics's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 21% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $15,000 in median debt clears quickly against $62,091 in annual earnings.

At #11 of 351 nationally, this is a top-5% Economics program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $100,784 show a 62% jump from the $62,091 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Los Angeles

Only 9% of applicants gain admission to University of California-Los Angeles, reflecting elite selectivity, with 33,040 students enrolled in Los Angeles, CA.

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

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr

Economists $115,440/yr

View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at University of California-Los Angeles?

This program scores 79/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Economics nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Economics careers?

With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $728,768 in decade earnings vs $921,135 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of California-Los Angeles's Economics program stand out?

Ranked #11 of 351 programs nationally, University of California-Los Angeles lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →