Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $52,029 track close to the $53,330 national median for Business Economics programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
With a 13.9x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 19% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Business Economics career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $16,519 in median debt against $52,029 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
University of California-Santa Cruz ranks #18 among 81 Business Economics programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
The $52,029-to-$89,932 earnings arc over five years reflects a 73% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.