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Psychology at University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,614/yr (-3% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)

ROI 11.9x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #78 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$672K	$657K	$582K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.2x	11.9x	10.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.8x	3.7x	3.3x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	47%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	45	45	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)

$54,988

Out-of-state: $178,096 (3.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$56,052

-2% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,388

5.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$65,954

115% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $30,614 track close to the $31,705 national median for Psychology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Psychology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Psychology's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.

At $14,388 in median debt against $30,614 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #78 of 926 programs, University of California-Los Angeles's Psychology program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $65,954 show a 115% jump from the $30,614 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Los Angeles

University of California-Los Angeles admits 9% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, 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

Psychologists, all other $117,580/yr

Industrial-organizational psychologists $109,840/yr

View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Psychology at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of California-Los Angeles

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A score of 45/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Psychology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Psychology careers?

With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $581,984 in decade earnings vs $672,049 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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