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Public Policy Analysis at University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,867/yr (-14% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (107,800 openings/yr)

ROI 10.4x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #13 of 40 Public Policy Analysis programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Public Policy Analysis graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$598K	$589K	$533K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.6x	10.4x	9.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.3x	3.3x	3.0x
Probability of Field Employment	54%	50%	36%
DegreeOutlook Score	50	49	47

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$56,680

Out-of-state: $179,788 (3.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$54,828

3% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,161

5.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,890

55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $39,867/yr, roughly in line with the $46,424 national median for Public Policy Analysis. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 10.4x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $39,867 far exceeding the $19,161 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #13 out of 40 programs, University of California-Riverside's Public Policy Analysis offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $39,867 to $61,890 over five years (55% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Riverside

A 63% admission rate makes University of California-Riverside accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 22,644 students in Riverside, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 47% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Riverside →

Top Career Paths

Political scientists $139,380/yr

Medical and health services managers $117,960/yr

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr

View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Public Policy Analysis at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Riverside's Public Policy Analysis program score?

This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Public Policy Analysis. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Public Policy Analysis to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Public Policy Analysis careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 49% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

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