University of California-Los Angeles
University of California-Los Angeles — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
What we think of University of California-Los Angeles
UCLA and Berkeley are the two anchors of the University of California system, and the choice between them is more program-specific than most applicants realize. UCLA edges Berkeley on film and media (the School of Theater, Film and Television is top-tier), pre-med pipeline via UCLA Health, and undergraduate business economics. Berkeley edges UCLA on engineering, computer science, and undergraduate business through Haas.
On the numbers the two schools look nearly identical: UCLA's $12,548 net price and $82,511 median earnings produce a 0.6-year payback, essentially matching Berkeley's ratio. Median debt of $14,000 is modestly lower than Berkeley's. Graduation rates within a point of each other.
What is different is that UCLA's 9% acceptance rate now sits roughly on par with Berkeley's, which was not true a decade ago. Californian students strong enough to be admitted to either should apply to both — the schools cross-admit heavily and campus and program fit typically decide, not the general rankings. For non-California applicants, UCLA's OOS net price runs above $40,000 per year, and the value proposition is much less clear versus in-state options elsewhere or elite privates with real aid.
Bottom line: California residents should treat UCLA and Berkeley as parallel top choices and let program strength and location preference (Los Angeles vs. the Bay Area) decide. Out-of-state applicants should apply only when UCLA specifically fits — film, pre-med, or a defined creative-industries track — and can absorb the cost premium.
University of California-Los Angeles at a Glance
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school, then known as the southern branch of the California State Normal School, which later evolved into San José State University. The branch was transferred to the University of California to become the Southern Branch of the University of California in 1919, making it the sec…
1919
107 years old
$9.8B
$9.79 billion ( FY 2024) (Total Endowment Assets)
46,676
33,040 undergrad · 13,636 grad
5,464
467 acres
Identity
How to Apply to University of California-Los Angeles
Official admissions pageNovember 30
$80
Fee waiver available
Not required
Testing policy
Recommendation letters
Essays
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Is University of California-Los Angeles Worth It?
University of California-Los Angeles is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $12,548/year net price and $82,511 median earnings, graduates earn 6.6× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 93% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
The catch: admission is extremely selective at just 9%, making this an option only for top-tier applicants.
Median student debt of $14,000 is manageable at just 17% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: University of California-Los Angeles delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of California-Los Angeles compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 7 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of California-Los Angeles | 100 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| #2 | University of California-Berkeley | 100 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| #3 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | 100 | $12,116 | $102,772 |
| #4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 100 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| #5 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 100 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| #6 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | 96 | $21,565 | $86,863 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of California-Los Angeles's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in CA.
Best Programs at University of California-Los Angeles
The highest-earning program at University of California-Los Angeles is Computer and Information Sciences, General at $102,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Music at $21,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer and Information Sciences, General graduate from University of California-Los Angeles earns $102,100, while a Music graduate earns $21,100. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates carry $19,000 in median debt vs. $18,123 for Music.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $12,548/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $102,100 | $102,100 | $19,000 |
| Computer Engineering | $87,600 | $87,600 | N/A |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $82,300 | $82,300 | $20,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $74,700 | $74,700 | $17,334 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $65,900 | $65,900 | $12,583 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $64,400 | $64,400 | $19,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $63,600 | $63,600 | $17,784 |
| Chemical Engineering | $53,100 | $53,100 | $14,899 |
| Mathematics | $51,000 | $51,000 | $16,104 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $50,800 | $50,800 | $19,000 |
| Economics | $48,800 | $48,800 | $15,382 |
| Statistics | $48,100 | $48,100 | $14,400 |
| Cognitive Science | $44,400 | $44,400 | $15,967 |
| Applied Mathematics | $43,900 | $43,900 | $15,000 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $41,100 | $41,100 | $15,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $38,300 | $38,300 | $15,000 |
| Chemistry | $37,900 | $37,900 | $15,000 |
| International/Global Studies | $37,000 | $37,000 | $20,215 |
| Political Science and Government | $36,200 | $36,200 | $15,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $35,600 | $35,600 | $20,800 |
| Human Biology | $33,500 | $33,500 | $14,000 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $33,200 | $33,200 | $16,500 |
| Physics | $33,000 | $33,000 | $18,409 |
| Geography and Cartography | $33,000 | $33,000 | $16,500 |
| Sociology | $33,000 | $33,000 | $15,000 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $31,100 | $31,100 | $16,000 |
| Psychology, General | $30,000 | $30,000 | $13,918 |
| Philosophy | $29,900 | $29,900 | $15,000 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $29,300 | $29,300 | $16,500 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $29,100 | $29,100 | $17,500 |
| Anthropology | $29,000 | $29,000 | $15,500 |
| Area Studies | $28,900 | $28,900 | $12,833 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $28,900 | $28,900 | $15,212 |
| History | $28,500 | $28,500 | $13,900 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $28,400 | $28,400 | $15,000 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $27,900 | $27,900 | $12,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $27,100 | $27,100 | $15,102 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $26,900 | $26,900 | $15,000 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $26,900 | $26,900 | $17,500 |
| Biology, General | $25,100 | $25,100 | $17,100 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $25,000 | $25,000 | $15,000 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $24,000 | $24,000 | $19,000 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $23,300 | $23,300 | $19,500 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $23,100 | $23,100 | $15,245 |
| Music | $21,100 | $21,100 | $18,123 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
- Student Body
- 33,475 students
- Admission Rate
- 9%
- Graduation Rate
- 93%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $12,548
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $82,511
- Median Student Debt
- $14,000