Landscape Architecture at University of California-Davis

In California's landscape architecture market, peer programs suggest starting salaries around $47,000—roughly $5,600 below the national median for this field. UC Davis graduates appear to follow this trajectory initially, but the four-year earnings figure of $63,464 shows meaningful income growth that's worth noting. The estimated debt load of $25,735 produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54, which is manageable and suggests graduates can reasonably handle their loan payments while establishing their careers.

The comparison to Cal Poly SLO is striking—that program's graduates start at $58,000, about $11,000 higher than what similar California programs typically produce. Even UC Berkeley's landscape architecture program shows lower initial earnings at $43,000. This variation across California's landscape architecture programs suggests that location, program focus, and industry connections matter significantly. UC Davis sits somewhere in the middle of this pack, with the four-year data indicating that any initial earnings gap begins to close as graduates gain experience.

For parents evaluating this investment, the combination of reasonable estimated debt and solid mid-career growth trajectory looks sound. The field itself is stable but not highly lucrative in its early years, so students drawn to landscape architecture for passion rather than peak earning potential will find the financial picture workable. The key uncertainty here is whether UC Davis specifically delivers outcomes closer to Cal Poly's higher mark or Berkeley's lower one—these estimates can't tell you that.