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Economics at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $66,334/yr (23% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)

ROI 15.5x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #6 of 351 Economics programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Economics graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$976K	$926K	$762K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.3x	15.5x	12.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.3x	5.1x	4.2x
Probability of Field Employment	66%	60%	41%
DegreeOutlook Score	81	80	77

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$59,860

Out-of-state: $182,968 (5.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$55,300

8% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$13,440

2.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$107,948

63% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-Santa Barbara's Economics graduates start at $66,334/yr — above the $53,966 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Economics programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Economics's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 22% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,440 in median debt clears quickly against $66,334 in annual earnings.

At #6 of 351 nationally, this is a top-5% Economics program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $107,948 show a 63% jump from the $66,334 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

Admission to University of California-Santa Barbara is competitive, with 28% of applicants accepted, one of the larger campuses at 23,205 students in Santa Barbara, CA.

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

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr

Economists $115,440/yr

View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Economics at Other Schools

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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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at University of California-Santa Barbara?

This program scores 80/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Economics nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Economics careers?

With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $762,200 in decade earnings vs $975,657 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of California-Santa Barbara's Economics program stand out?

Ranked #6 of 351 programs nationally, University of California-Santa Barbara lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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