City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning at University of California-Davis

UC Davis's planning program carries an estimated debt load of $25,244—substantially higher than the $16,730 median for California planning programs and closer to the national average. With estimated first-year earnings around $44,000, that's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57, meaning graduates would owe roughly seven months' salary. While manageable by typical standards, it's worth noting that Cal Poly SLO graduates in planning start around $48,000 with presumably less debt at a CSU.

The earnings estimate itself sits below what similar programs in California typically produce ($47,000), though it aligns with the national median. Urban planning is a field where public sector employment is common, which can mean steady if not spectacular starting salaries. The real concern here is why debt appears higher than at peer California programs—potentially reflecting UC Davis's residential campus culture and associated housing costs, or differences in financial aid packaging compared to the Cal State system.

For a UC credential in a specialized field, this represents a reasonable but not exceptional financial outcome. The higher debt relative to other California planning programs means your child would need to be thoughtful about living costs during school and potentially prioritize public sector loan forgiveness programs if pursuing government work. Given the small program size that led to data suppression, connecting with current students about actual job placement would be essential before committing.