Institutional Research and Academic Planning
IRAP research illustrates the impact the University of California has on advancing economic mobility for its students, their families and the state. Below is a collection of research completed to understand economic mobility of undergraduate and graduate students, along with opportunities for continuous improvement.
Summary metrics can be found in the Honors and Rankings chapter of the UC Accountability Report (Chapter 13).
Alumni economic mobility content and analysis is separated into the three categories below:
- Economic mobility for undergraduates
- Other research on undergraduate alumni mobility
- Graduate education and economic mobility
Economic mobility for undergraduates
UC alumni earnings
UC information CenterUC alumni earnings in California by major, years after graduation and industries they work in.
Economic mobility of undergraduates PDF
January 2017A recent study confirms that UC excels in providing access to low-income students and helping them climb the economic ladder. More than 40 percent of UC students come from families at the bottom 20 percent of the income distribution, which exceeds both public and private peer institutions. More than 75 percent of UC’s low-income students go on to join the middle class.
UC-trained health professionals in California
UC Information CenterMap and description of UC-trained medical professionals—including graduate students and residents—currently practicing across the state.
UC and first-generation students, a formula for economic mobility and public benefit PDF
July 2018This brief summarizes the personal and economic growth experienced by UC first-generation students, along with their potential contributions to public welfare.
First generation student success at the University of California PDF
August 2017This policy brief highlights some of the unique ways that UC serves first-generation students and empowers them to achieve their goals.
CLIMB: A mobility analysis PDF
March 2018UC’s collaboration with the Equality of Opportunity Project and the CLIMB Initiative reveals new insights into UC’s role in enabling low-income students to achieve intergenerational economic mobility.
Other research on undergraduate alumni mobility
Is there a gender pay gap among UC graduates? PDF
August 2018Recent evidence reveals that University of California (UC) graduates are not immune from the gender pay gap that exists nationwide. This report compares earnings for male and female UC undergraduate alumni by major and industry of work, and also explores the relationships between gender, race, college GPA, and post-graduation earnings.
UC undergraduate alumni outcomes
UC Information CenterThis dashboard shows that, on average, UC graduates’ earnings double between 2 and 10 years after graduation. It also shows the post-UC earnings trajectory by major, and the proportion of UC graduates who go on to work in CA after graduation.
Student engagement and employment outcomes PDF
March 2016IRAP researchers presented their latest work on student success at the November 2015 conference of the California Association for Institutional Research (CAIR) – an analysis of the relationship between student engagement and post-college employment outcomes.
Graduate education and economic mobility
UC undergraduates are more likely to plan to earn a doctoral or professional degree PDF
January 2019The University of California Undergraduate Experience Survey (UCUES) and the National Student Survey of Engagement (NSSE) both ask undergraduate students about the highest degree they plan to earn. This topic brief compares the likelihood of UC undergraduates to plan on earning a graduate degree to undergraduates of various Carnegie Classification universities.
UC student graduate school aspirations and outcomes PDF
January 2018The UC Undergraduate Experience Survey (UCUES) shows that about 40 percent of UC’s undergraduates plan to enroll in graduate school, but less is known about their graduate degree success rates or how their plans and outcomes vary by demographic groups. This brief summarizes students’ plans to enroll in graduate school and their success in completing graduate degrees, by ethnic groups.
UC undergraduate alumni graduate degree attainment
UC Information CenterGraduate degree outcomes of UC graduates and the different post-UC earnings trajectory associated with graduate degree completed.
A century of health: UC-trained medical professionals in California PDF
May 2017A longitudinal analysis of the impact on California of UC-trained health professionals, beginning in the early 20th century through today.
IRAP experts and requests for additional information
IRAP experts: alumni economic mobility
Chris Furgiuele | Brianna Moore-Trieu | Julienne Palbusa
Requests and information