Liberal Arts & Humanitiesat University of California-Riverside
Graduates earn $23,203/yr in their first year — about 38.0% below the national Liberal Arts & Humanities average. Base-case 10-year earnings $669K; scenarios range from $645K to $669K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Riverside
Studying Liberal Arts and Sciences at UC Riverside offers a foundational intellectual experience, but your initial career trajectory will heavily depend on how you leverage this broad degree within the local Inland Empire job market. Unlike majors with direct vocational pipelines, this program emphasizes critical thinking and communication—skills valuable across many sectors, yet often requiring you to actively define your niche.
The regional economy, while growing, typically doesn't offer the same density of high-paying entry-level corporate roles that might recruit general humanities majors in larger metropolitan hubs. Consequently, many graduates find initial roles in local government, non-profits, education support, or small to medium-sized businesses, where the focus is on transferable skills rather than specialized technical expertise. To maximize your post-graduation earnings, actively seek internships that provide concrete work experience and explore how your humanities background can translate into specific, in-demand skills or prepare you for further specialized education.
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 UC Riverside'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 Liberal Arts & Humanities
How UC Riverside stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC Riverside
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Riverside, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Liberal Arts & Humanities offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Liberal Arts & Humanities trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Liberal Arts & Humanities at UC Riverside
How does University of California-Riverside's Liberal Arts & Humanities program score?
This program scores 28/100 — on the lower end for Liberal Arts & Humanities. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Why are Liberal Arts & Humanities earnings lower at University of California-Riverside?
Lower starting pay at University of California-Riverside may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.