Linguistics at University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
32
Optimistic
31
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings
$27,629/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market
Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI
9.1x earnings multiple (3.0x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Linguistics graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $552K | $545K | $498K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.2x | 9.1x | 8.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.0x | 3.0x | 2.7x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 43% | 38% | 28% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 32 | 31 | 26 |
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 (3.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,000
5.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,393
90% growth from Year 1
About University of California-Santa Barbara
University of California-Santa Barbara accepts 28% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, serving a student body of 23,205 in Santa Barbara, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Santa Barbara →Top Career Paths
Social scientists and related workers, all other
$100,340/yr
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
$78,270/yr
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
$77,010/yr
Compare & Explore
Linguistics 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 Linguistics at University of California-Santa Barbara?
A score of 31/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Linguistics. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Linguistics careers?
With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $497,975 in decade earnings vs $551,623 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →