Economicsat University of California-Los Angeles
Graduates earn $62,091/yr in their first year — about 15.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $877K; scenarios range from $729K to $921K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UCLA
Your UCLA Economics degree benefits significantly from the university's strong global reputation and its prime location in Los Angeles. This provides direct access to diverse, high-growth industries—from finance and tech to entertainment and consulting—which actively recruit analytical talent. The program's rigorous quantitative training, coupled with a robust alumni network, creates excellent pipelines into competitive roles, often at leading firms across Southern California and beyond.
The "Very High" AI risk for many economics-related roles isn't a deterrent, but a call to action. It signals the evolving nature of analytical work, where automation will handle routine data tasks. To truly thrive, actively pursue internships that apply your analytical skills in real-world settings and deepen your expertise in data science, econometrics, or computational methods to master the tools shaping tomorrow's economy.
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 Economics
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.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Economics offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Economics at UCLA
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.