Statistics at University of California-Los Angeles

UCLA's statistics program lands squarely at the national median for first-year earnings but climbs to the 60th percentile among California programs—a meaningful distinction given that most students will compare options within their state. With first-year earnings of $59,718 and notably low debt of $17,005 (a 0.28 debt-to-earnings ratio), graduates start with considerable financial flexibility. The 30% earnings jump to $77,720 by year four suggests strong career trajectory, though it's worth noting that Berkeley's statistics grads start $23,000 higher and likely accelerate faster from there.

The financial picture here is genuinely attractive: debt that's manageable from day one and earnings that grow substantially within four years. For families paying in-state tuition at UCLA, this represents solid value, especially considering the program's competitive advantage over most other California schools. The moderate sample size of 30-100 graduates means these figures are reasonably reliable, though individual outcomes will naturally vary.

The practical reality is that UCLA's statistics program won't immediately match the earning power of Berkeley's, but it offers a much better value proposition than most California alternatives while keeping graduates largely debt-free. For an anxious parent, the combination of UCLA's selectivity (9% admission rate), reasonable debt load, and steady earnings growth makes this a defensible investment—just recognize you're getting good-but-not-elite outcomes from an elite-admission school.