University of California-Irvine majors, earnings & debt

University of California-Irvine offers 72 bachelor's majors across 10 areas. Graduates in Computer Engineering earn the most: a median $132,357 four years after graduating. Earnings below are for this school's own graduates in each major, not national averages.

All University of California-Irvine majors by area

Science & Math · 17 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Physics$43,144$96,215$15,000
Mathematics$45,924$77,472$19,000
Chemistry$43,766$74,810$13,276
Geology / Earth Science$38,804$70,820$15,000
Environmental Science / Conservation$36,304$59,908$12,477
Biology$25,388$56,273$15,767
Biochemistry$42,200——
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology———
Botany / Plant Biology———
Cell / Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences———
Cognitive Science———
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology———
Genetics———
Human Biology$12,187—$20,900
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology———
Neuroscience$21,818—$20,500
Physiology———
Humanities & Languages · 14 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$35,404$60,242$16,332
International / Global Studies$33,388$57,116$15,250
Spanish / French / Romance Languages$36,692$55,360$9,500
English$26,021$54,299$18,176
History$23,480$53,481$15,929
Ethnic / Gender Studies$26,712$47,471$18,998
Area Studies$30,897——
Classical and Ancient Studies———
Classics———
East Asian Languages (Chinese / Japanese / Korean)———
Liberal Arts / General Studies———
Linguistics———
Philosophy$20,922—$23,705
Religious Studies———
Engineering · 11 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Computer Engineering$79,812$132,357$19,233
Electrical Engineering$80,412$106,871$19,000
Materials Engineering$58,177$106,547$9,987
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical / Space Engineering$67,425$100,537$18,950
Mechanical Engineering$67,633$99,111$14,500
Chemical Engineering$57,540$97,656$18,500
Biomedical Engineering$67,170$96,874$17,390
Civil Engineering$73,835$96,354$19,700
Engineering———
Environmental Design———
Environmental Engineering———
Social Sciences & Public Service · 8 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Urban Studies / Affairs$34,385$63,819$15,000
Political Science$31,976$63,318$16,293
Criminology$34,522$57,935$15,865
Sociology$34,050$56,457$15,000
Psychology$27,115$56,380$14,883
Psychology (Research)$29,830$54,323$13,000
Anthropology$30,509$50,850$16,667
Social Sciences$34,871—$16,338
Arts & Design · 6 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Film and Photography$21,397$51,423$16,300
Music—$43,120—
Theatre$20,461$40,773$17,862
Dance$28,112$40,466$20,080
Studio Art$16,989$39,010$17,635
Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design———
Technology & Computing · 6 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Computer Science$82,161$127,404$15,500
Computer and Information Sciences$53,517$96,347$20,000
Software and Media Applications—$69,981$21,650
Computer Programming———
Information Science / Studies———
Mathematics and Computer Science———
Business & Finance · 4 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Management Information Systems$68,786$108,038$16,500
Economics$44,087$83,937$15,499
Business Administration$48,786$80,755$13,000
Business Economics$44,277$77,807$15,000
Health & Medicine · 3 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Nursing$87,715$119,502$13,400
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration$20,538$61,034$15,026
Public Health$35,463$60,430$17,285
Education · 2 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Education$26,106$54,356$15,575
Education (Subject Teaching)$56,003——
Communications & Media · 1 major
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Journalism$31,102$57,492$16,900

College Scorecard field of study, latest release: median earnings of graduates who received federal aid, 1 and 4 years after graduating; median federal loan debt. — means too few graduates to report.

From major to career

Computer Science → Software developer

$160,920
Los Angeles
$174,410
California
$135,980
U.S.

Median annual wage for all workers in this job. U.S. jobs projected to grow 10.2% from 2025 to 2035. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree.

BLS OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35

Public Health → Health education specialist

$62,380
Los Angeles
$63,610
California
$64,070
U.S.

Median annual wage for all workers in this job. U.S. jobs projected to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree.

BLS OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35

Across all majors, former University of California-Irvine students earn a median $80,735 ten years after starting college, more than 82% of California colleges we cover. 87% graduate within six years.

University of California-Irvine majors questions

How many majors does University of California-Irvine offer?

University of California-Irvine offers 72 bachelor's majors across 10 areas; the most majors are in Science & Math and Humanities & Languages.

What is the highest-paying major at University of California-Irvine?

Computer Engineering graduates from University of California-Irvine earn a median $132,357 four years after graduating, the highest of the 44 majors with reported earnings. Their median debt is $19,233.

Which University of California-Irvine majors earn the least?

Among majors with reported earnings, Studio Art graduates earn the least: a median $39,010 four years after graduating.

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study); Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, Employment Projections). Back to University of California-Irvine overview