Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology at University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
46 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
46
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $26,953/yr (-20% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (449,300 openings/yr)
ROI 10.9x earnings multiple (3.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #27 of 59 Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $673K $663K $593K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.0x 10.9x 9.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.7x 3.6x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 52% 49% 37%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 46 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$61,060
Out-of-state: $184,168 (3.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$47,000
23% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
6.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$63,237
135% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $26,953 per year, Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology graduates from University of California-San Diego earn below the $33,816 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology's typical career paths, with 42% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 12% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $15,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $26,953 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #27 of 59 Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology programs, University of California-San Diego scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $63,237 show a 135% jump from the $26,953 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-San Diego

A 25% acceptance rate puts University of California-San Diego in competitive admissions territory, one of the larger campuses at 33,787 students in La Jolla, CA.

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

Top Career Paths

Human resources managers $140,030/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Training and development managers $127,090/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology at Other Schools

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology at University of California-San Diego?
A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology careers?
With 42% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $592,676 in decade earnings vs $673,031 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology from University of California-San Diego?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →