Psychology at University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
45 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
45
Base Case
44
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%

Program Analysis

Your UCLA psychology degree equips you with valuable analytical, research, and human behavior insights, skills highly sought across diverse sectors. However, many general psychology graduates initially enter roles that don't immediately reflect the university's prestige or the eventual earning potential of specialized psychology careers. Think roles in HR, marketing analytics, social services, or education, where the foundational understanding of human interaction is crucial. The Los Angeles job market is competitive but offers vast opportunities, particularly in tech (UX research, talent management), healthcare, and entertainment, if you strategically leverage your skills. The perceived automation risk often applies to more administrative or data-centric tasks rather than the nuanced interpersonal skills you develop. To maximize your outcome, actively seek internships in your desired industry and consider how further specialization, perhaps through a master's or PhD, aligns with your long-term career aspirations.

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

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 →