Home › University of California-Santa Cruz › Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
22 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
23
Optimistic
22
Base Case
23
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,810/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Large (72,700 openings/yr)
ROI 8.1x earnings multiple (2.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #49 of 64 Ecology & Evolution programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Ecology & Evolutionary Biology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $471K $472K $449K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.1x 8.1x 7.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.6x 2.6x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 49% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 23 22 23

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$58,240
Out-of-state: $181,348 (2.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$66,428
-14% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,589
8.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,513
57% growth from Year 1

About University of California-Santa Cruz

University of California-Santa Cruz accepts 63% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, enrolling 17,812 students in Santa Cruz, CA.

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

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
Statisticians $103,300/yr
View all 13 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 64 schools offering Ecology & Evolutionary Biology →

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Other Schools

Princeton University ($53,038) New York University ($41,024) California State University-San Marcos ($40,875) Rutgers University-New Brunswick ($39,491) University of Colorado Boulder ($37,184) University of Maryland-College Park ($36,375) East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania ($35,762) Bemidji State University ($35,521)

Other Majors at University of California-Santa Cruz

Computer Engineering ($79,969) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,842) Computer Science ($75,150) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($55,856) Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management ($55,773) Business/Managerial Economics ($52,029) Economics ($50,518) Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences ($45,088)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Santa Cruz's Ecology & Evolutionary Biology program score?
This program scores 22/100 — on the lower end for Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Ecology & Evolutionary Biology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Ecology & Evolutionary Biology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% 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 →