Business/Managerial Economics at University of California-Davis

UC Davis managerial economics graduates start at $54,546—essentially matching the California median—but accelerate to $78,081 by year four, a 43% jump that outpaces most peers. While UCLA leads California programs by a wide margin at $83,604, Davis places solidly in the middle of the state's offerings and ranks in the 60th percentile statewide. The real standout here is debt: at just $13,000, Davis charges roughly a third less than the typical California program ($18,000) and barely half the national average. That 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than a quarter of their first-year salary—one of the lowest burdens you'll find for this degree.

The trajectory matters as much as the starting point. Many business programs front-load earnings, but Davis shows steady upward momentum through year four, suggesting graduates build genuine career capital rather than just landing entry-level jobs. Combined with the minimal debt, this creates a low-risk path into business careers. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means these numbers are reliable, though not based on hundreds of data points.

For families concerned about both cost and career prospects, Davis delivers what matters: strong earnings growth without the debt trap. You're paying significantly less than most UC alternatives while preserving solid earning potential as graduates gain experience.