Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) at University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
42
Base Case
46
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,941/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (26% exposed)
Job Market Large (44,000 openings/yr)
ROI 10.4x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #15 of 37 Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $613K $606K $568K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.5x 10.4x 9.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.4x 3.3x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 52% 50% 44%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 42 46

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 (3.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$66,428
-14% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,883
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,817
70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $36,941/yr, Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) graduates from University of California-Santa Cruz land near the $39,560 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate)'s typical career paths, with 26% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $17,883 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #15 of 37 Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) programs, University of California-Santa Cruz scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $62,817 show a 70% jump from the $36,941 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

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

Legal support workers, all other $68,760/yr
Paralegals and legal assistants $61,010/yr
View all 2 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of California-Santa Cruz

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 Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) at University of California-Santa Cruz?
A score of 42/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate). Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →