Agricultural Engineering at University of California-Los Angeles

UCLA doesn't actually report earnings or debt data for its Agricultural Engineering program—likely because few students pursue this major at a campus better known for life sciences and entertainment industry pipelines. Based on what peer programs produce nationally, graduates might expect around $65,400 their first year out with roughly $23,000 in debt, but that national comparison obscures an important gap: Cal Poly SLO's actual reported earnings for California Ag Engineering grads are $72,700, about $7,300 higher, while carrying $16,400 in typical debt.

That difference matters when you're paying UCLA's price tag. The debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable on paper at 0.35, but you'd be investing in a program that isn't UCLA's strength, at one of the country's most selective universities (9% admission), while Cal Poly—a school specifically designed around agriculture and engineering—produces better outcomes at lower cost. If your student is serious about Agricultural Engineering rather than just interested in the UCLA brand, the data from comparable programs suggests they'd likely earn less and owe more than if they attended the state school that actually specializes in this field. Choose UCLA for what it does exceptionally well, not for a niche major where it has virtually no track record.