International Studiesat University of California-Los Angeles
Graduates earn $39,082/yr in their first year — about 12.0% above the national International Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $723K; scenarios range from $674K to $735K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UCLA
Your choice to pursue International/Global Studies at a globally-recognized institution like UCLA places you in a strong position. The inherent value here isn't just the curriculum, but the comprehensive university ecosystem: top-tier faculty, highly motivated peers, and unparalleled networking opportunities in a city that’s a hub for international business, entertainment, and non-profits.
The program's interdisciplinary nature means you're developing critical thinking, communication, and cross-cultural understanding—highly valued soft skills in any professional environment. Employers, from international NGOs and think tanks to global corporations and government agencies with an LA presence, actively recruit from UCLA, knowing graduates possess a strong foundational intellect. To maximize your competitive edge, actively pursue internships and develop proficiency in a foreign language; these concrete experiences will translate your broad knowledge into specific career pathways.
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 International Studies
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 International Studies offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare International Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about International Studies at UCLA
What does a 48/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for International Studies at University of California-Los Angeles?
At 48/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring International Studies programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.