Psychology, General at University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
37 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
37
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,144/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 9.6x earnings multiple (3.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #347 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Psychology, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $596K $587K $531K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.8x 9.6x 8.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.2x 3.2x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 37 37

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 (3.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$47,000
23% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,446
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,911
95% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-San Diego's Psychology, General program produces graduates earning $29,144/yr — within striking distance of the $31,705 national average for this field.

At 9.6x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

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

The $15,446 debt-to-$29,144 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #347 out of 926 programs, University of California-San Diego's Psychology, General offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $29,144 to $56,911 over five years (95% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-San Diego

Admission to University of California-San Diego is competitive, with 25% of applicants accepted, 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

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, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of California-San Diego

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

How does University of California-San Diego's Psychology, General program score?
This program scores 37/100 — on the lower end for Psychology, General. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Psychology, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Psychology, General 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 →