Santa Cruz, CA · Private University
Is UC Santa Cruz Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$68,396
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$14,560
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$45,337
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$181,348
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.51x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
5.4 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
74.5%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$16,666
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$16,607
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
University of California-Santa Cruz graduates earn $23,396 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-Santa Cruz ranked by graduate earnings
81 graduates
550 graduates
54 graduates
128 graduates
56 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at University of California-Santa Cruz
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-Santa Cruz, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer Engineering: $118,191) and the lowest (Graphic Communications: $25,358) is $92,833/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Computer EngineeringBest ROI | $118,191 | 2.6x |
| Computer Science | $101,953 | 2.3x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $99,815 | 2.2x |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $86,880 | 1.9x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $83,334 | 1.8x |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $78,567 | 1.7x |
| Economics | $73,904 | 1.6x |
| Mathematics | $71,946 | 1.6x |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $60,883 | 1.3x |
| Cognitive Science | $59,051 | 1.3x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $56,645 | 1.3x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $56,377 | 1.2x |
| Political Science and Government | $53,304 | 1.2x |
| Biology, General | $52,707 | 1.2x |
| Chemistry | $52,368 | 1.2x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $51,675 | 1.1x |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $49,977 | 1.1x |
| Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) | $49,862 | 1.1x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $49,828 | 1.1x |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $48,249 | 1.1x |
| Psychology, General | $48,247 | 1.1x |
| Sociology | $47,904 | 1.1x |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $45,701 | 1.0x |
| History | $40,464 | 0.9x |
| Anthropology | $40,257 | 0.9x |
| Philosophy | $39,427 | 0.9x |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $38,878 | 0.9x |
| Physics(1yr data) | $37,859 | 0.8x |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics(1yr data) | $35,171 | 0.8x |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $35,013 | 0.8x |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $34,586 | 0.8x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $33,474 | 0.7x |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $30,020 | 0.7x |
| Behavioral Sciences(1yr data) | $28,709 | 0.6x |
| Graphic CommunicationsLowest(1yr data) | $25,358 | 0.6x |
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-Santa Cruz offers solid financial returns relative to its cost. Graduates earn $68,396 10 years after starting, $23,396 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 5.4 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.