Social Sciences Studies at University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Social Sciences, Other
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
50
Optimistic
50
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,934/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (33% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (111,400 openings/yr)
ROI 10.6x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #7 of 33 Social Sciences, Other programs Top 25%

Program Analysis

Your UCR Social Sciences, Other degree offers a strong foundation in critical thinking and analytical skills, valued across many sectors. While not a specialized vocational path, this interdisciplinary program from a respected UC campus prepares you for diverse roles. The earnings profile reflects graduates leveraging these broad skills in management, government, or non-profit sectors, often within the dynamic Inland Empire labor market or broader Southern California. This region offers opportunities in public administration, community services, and increasingly, logistics and related management roles where strong soft skills are essential. The flexibility of this "other" major means your career trajectory isn't pre-defined, but rather shaped by your initiative. Given the listed high AI risk for generalist roles, proactively choosing minors, internships, and skill-building that align with specific, in-demand areas – like data analysis, project management, or UX research – will be crucial for your long-term career resilience and earning potential.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Social Sciences Studies graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $612K $602K $561K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.8x 10.6x 9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.4x 3.3x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 62% 57% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 50 50 54

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
$16,583
5.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,806
55% growth from Year 1

About University of California-Riverside

With a 63% acceptance rate, University of California-Riverside is moderately selective, with 22,644 students enrolled 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

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Social scientists and related workers, all other $100,340/yr
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other $75,040/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Social Sciences Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of California-Riverside

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

How does University of California-Riverside's Social Sciences Studies program score?
This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Social Sciences Studies graduates.
How vulnerable is Social Sciences Studies to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Social Sciences Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 33% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does University of California-Riverside rank so high for Social Sciences Studies?
The #7 ranking out of 33 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →