Davis, CA · Private University
Is UC Davis Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$80,838
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$15,247
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$46,024
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$184,096
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.76x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
4 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
85.1%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$13,000
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$15,288
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
University of California-Davis graduates earn $35,838 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at University of California-Davis ranked by graduate earnings
241 graduates
71 graduates
91 graduates
132 graduates
106 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at University of California-Davis
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At University of California-Davis, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer and Information Sciences, General: $129,448) and the lowest (Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management: $29,896) is $99,552/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralBest ROI | $129,448 | 2.8x |
| Computer Engineering | $120,745 | 2.6x |
| Engineering, General | $104,701 | 2.3x |
| Civil Engineering | $91,243 | 2.0x |
| Chemical Engineering | $90,820 | 2.0x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $86,137 | 1.9x |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $85,561 | 1.9x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $84,254 | 1.8x |
| Statistics | $80,650 | 1.8x |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $78,081 | 1.7x |
| Applied Mathematics | $76,162 | 1.6x |
| Biotechnology | $75,451 | 1.6x |
| Materials Engineering(1yr data) | $74,110 | 1.6x |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $72,431 | 1.6x |
| Economics | $71,906 | 1.6x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $67,743 | 1.5x |
| Chemistry | $66,311 | 1.4x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $65,761 | 1.4x |
| Food Science and Technology | $65,196 | 1.4x |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | $63,950 | 1.4x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $63,206 | 1.4x |
| Genetics | $61,115 | 1.3x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $60,820 | 1.3x |
| Social Sciences, Other | $59,076 | 1.3x |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $58,426 | 1.3x |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $58,151 | 1.3x |
| Biology, General | $56,137 | 1.2x |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $55,810 | 1.2x |
| Design and Applied Arts | $55,388 | 1.2x |
| Political Science and Government | $54,795 | 1.2x |
| Mathematics | $54,406 | 1.2x |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $53,955 | 1.2x |
| Nutrition Sciences | $53,852 | 1.2x |
| Psychology, Other | $53,727 | 1.2x |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(1yr data) | $52,684 | 1.1x |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | $52,662 | 1.1x |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $51,750 | 1.1x |
| Sociology | $50,561 | 1.1x |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $49,781 | 1.1x |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $47,647 | 1.0x |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $46,911 | 1.0x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $46,511 | 1.0x |
| Anthropology | $46,322 | 1.0x |
| History | $45,277 | 1.0x |
| Area Studies | $44,722 | 1.0x |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $44,697 | 1.0x |
| Plant Sciences(1yr data) | $43,873 | 0.9x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $42,942 | 0.9x |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $42,546 | 0.9x |
| Cognitive Science(1yr data) | $42,342 | 0.9x |
| Animal Sciences | $42,226 | 0.9x |
| Music | $40,840 | 0.9x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $38,058 | 0.8x |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $35,213 | 0.8x |
| Philosophy | $34,146 | 0.7x |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $30,444 | 0.7x |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and ManagementLowest(1yr data) | $29,896 | 0.7x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
University of California-Davis offers solid financial returns relative to its cost. Graduates earn $80,838 10 years after starting — $35,838 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 4 years — faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.