Outcomes-based program rankings.
Program outcomes at University of California, Los Angeles vary significantly by field of study, with median earnings ranging from $47,888 in American History to $110,760 in Electrical Engineering. The rankings below evaluate programs based on graduate earnings, debt levels, and return on investment rather than academic reputation or prestige.
Analyzing 51 programs with available earnings data.
These highlights identify UCLA programs that excel in national rankings, graduate earnings, or enrollment scale.
#12 nationally
$51K median earnings
This bar shows the range of median earnings across all majors at this school.
The tables below compare programs in each category by earnings, national ranking, debt levels, and enrollment size.
These sections represent the complete set of ranked undergraduate programs at University Of California-Los Angeles.
UCLA's engineering programs deliver exceptional earnings outcomes, with Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduates earning $110,760 and ranking #10 nationally. These programs represent the university's highest-earning fields, though with smaller cohort sizes than social science programs.
Students pursuing engineering should expect strong employment prospects and salary potential that justifies the rigorous academic preparation required.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering, General. | #12 |
Program rankings reflect post-graduation employment outcomes based on federal College Scorecard data tracking graduate earnings and debt levels. Rankings evaluate labor market results rather than academic reputation, explaining why programs at the same institution show different performance levels. UCLA's 20 programs with sufficient data represent a sample of the university's full academic offerings, with cohort size requirements ensuring statistical reliability. Earnings reflect median outcomes 4-6 years after graduation, when most graduates have established career trajectories. These outcomes vary due to different industry salary levels, graduate school continuation rates, and regional employment markets. Students should consider these factors alongside their personal interests and career goals when selecting majors, recognizing that program choice significantly influences post-graduation financial outcomes regardless of institutional quality.
Median earnings 10 years post-enrollment
Debt burden relative to earnings
Institutional contribution to outcomes
recent graduates
| — |
| 74 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering. | #11 | $110,760 | — | 157 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | #2 | $97,701 | $29,342 | 138 |
| Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering. | #15 | $97,038 | — | 66 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General. | #8 | $93,464 | — | 56 |
| Chemical Engineering, Other. | #26 | $92,741 | — | 74 |
| Civil Engineering, General. | #13 | $90,288 | — | 87 |
Applied Economics stands as UCLA's largest high-earning program, graduating 833 students annually with median earnings of $81,475 and ranking #31 nationally. This program combines strong employment outcomes with substantial enrollment scale, making it accessible to many students while maintaining competitive post-graduation results.
Students interested in business, policy, or quantitative analysis find strong career preparation here.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Managerial Economics. | #10 | $92,873 | — | 32 |
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing. leads health with 106K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing. | #35 | $105,969 | — | 44 |
Mathematics and science programs at UCLA show strong variation in outcomes, from Applied Mathematics graduates earning $81,414 to Biology majors at $55,250. Mathematical Statistics ranks #11 nationally with $77,720 earnings.
Pre-health students often choose biology tracks, which may lead to graduate school rather than immediate workforce entry. These programs suit students seeking research preparation or professional school pathways.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Mathematics, General. | #8 | $81,414★ | $41,374 | 345 |
| Algebra and Number Theory. | #37 | $77,892 | — | 145 |
| Mathematical Statistics and Probability. | #11 | $77,720 | $24,370 | 239 |
| Acoustics. | #9 | $73,644 | — | 66 |
| Neuroanatomy. | #7 | $61,875 | $39,565 | 180 |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. | #7 | $61,419 | $31,112 | 240 |
| Analytical Chemistry. | #48 | $59,720 | — | 50 |
| Anatomy. | #10 | $55,461 | $37,198 | 263 |
| Biology, General. | #22 | $55,250 | $27,284 | 562 |
| Immunology. | #7 | $49,690 | $14,665 | 130 |
| Aerospace Physiology and Medicine. | #22 | $40,318 | $24,864 | 202 |
| Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatology.Small sample | #17 | $30,126 | — | 18 |
| Geochemistry and Petrology.Small sample | #110 | $25,194 | — | 18 |
| Aquatic Biology/Limnology. | #40 | $18,728 | — | 50 |
Social science programs at UCLA demonstrate exceptional value performance despite moderate earnings levels. Psychology ranks #11 nationally with outstanding value scores, while Political Science and Sociology programs also achieve top-tier rankings.
These fields excel in graduate school preparation and public service careers, with Applied/Public Sociology ranking #6 nationally and achieving perfect value scores of 97.9.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Economics. | #33 | $81,475★ | $31,600 | 833 |
| Geographic Information Science and Cartography. | #1 🏆 | $60,363 | $19,243 | 156 |
| American Government and Politics (United States). | #37 | $58,937 | $25,770 | 704 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience. | #3 | $57,559 | $30,846 | 400 |
| Applied/Public Sociology. | #6 | $54,562 | $18,385 | 787 |
| Psychology, General. | #12 | $52,754 | $19,882 | 631 |
| Anthropology, General. | #9 | $46,401 | $25,338 | 257 |
Humanities programs at UCLA achieve remarkable national recognition despite lower earnings typical of these fields. English Literature ranks #4 nationally with earnings of $52,432, while American History ranks #18 nationally.
These programs excel in graduate school preparation, writing-intensive careers, and public service pathways. Students should consider long-term career trajectories rather than immediate post-graduation earnings when evaluating these fields.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Photography. | #7 | $68,882★ | — | 45 |
| Applied Linguistics. | #2 | $55,469 | $14,858 | 153 |
| Catalan Language and Literature. | #15 | $55,337 | — | 87 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | #4 | $52,432 | $16,703 | 341 |
| American History (United States). | #21 | $47,888 | $20,127 | 328 |
| Cinematography and Film/Video Production. | #23 | $44,860 | — | 29 |
| Applied and Professional Ethics. | #15 | $43,881 | $17,100 | 130 |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation. | #31 | $42,938 | $32,528 | 159 |
| Chinese Language and Literature. | #13 | $42,261 | — | 48 |
| Brass Instruments. | #43 | $34,625 | — | 68 |
| Acting. | #89 | $26,187 | $53,036 | 63 |
| American Literature (Canadian). | — | $25,194 | — | 35 |
| Ballet. | #25 | $19,787 | — | 29 |
Agriculture & Environment graduates earn 69K on average, with 1 program ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Science. | #3 | $69,142 | $39,463 | 77 |
UCLA's interdisciplinary programs include unique offerings like African-American Studies, which ranks #1 nationally, and Multi-Interdisciplinary Studies ranking #5 nationally with strong earnings of $65,593. These programs allow students to combine multiple academic interests while achieving competitive outcomes.
Cognitive Science ranks #7 nationally, reflecting UCLA's strength in emerging interdisciplinary fields that bridge traditional academic boundaries.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Biology. | #1 🏆 | $73,339★ | $26,449 | 128 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | #5 | $65,593 | $31,844 | 234 |
| Cognitive Science, General. | #7 | $62,158 | — | 181 |
| International/Globalization Studies. | #13 | $59,381 | — | 43 |
| African Studies. | #14 | $55,626 | — | 100 |
| African-American/Black Studies. | #1 🏆 | $51,490 | $7,636 | 343 |
| Architectural Design. | #55 | $31,305 | — | 22 |
Resources, cohort size, and graduation rates
Trajectory from early to mid-career
Why rankings may differ by program: A university's nursing program and business program can have entirely different outcome profiles. Our methodology surfaces these differences so you can evaluate programs — not just institutions.
