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IT Management at University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $55,773/yr (-7% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (68% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (386,000 openings/yr)

ROI 17.6x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #7 of 102 Computer/Information Technology Administration programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$1,105K	$1,027K	$789K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	19.0x	17.6x	13.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.1x	5.7x	4.4x
Probability of Field Employment	74%	64%	39%
DegreeOutlook Score	82	81	75

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 (5.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$66,428

-14% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,020

4.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$108,700

95% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-Santa Cruz's IT Management program produces graduates earning $55,773/yr — within striking distance of the $59,802 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI IT Management programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in IT Management's typical career paths, with 68% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 29% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $20,020 in median debt clears quickly against $55,773 in annual earnings.

Ranked #7 of 102 programs, University of California-Santa Cruz's IT Management program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $108,700 show a 95% jump from the $55,773 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Santa Cruz

University of California-Santa Cruz's 63% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, enrolling 17,812 students in Santa Cruz, CA.

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

Top Career Paths

Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Database architects $135,980/yr

View all 13 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

IT Management at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for IT Management at University of California-Santa Cruz?

This program scores 81/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for IT Management nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace IT Management careers?

With 68% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $788,873 in decade earnings vs $1,105,434 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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