University of California-San Diego
University of California-San Diego — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of California-San Diego at a Glance
The University of California, San Diego is a public land-grant research university in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States. Established in 1960, it is the southernmost of the ten campuses of the University of California. It occupies 2,178 acres (881 ha) near the Pacific coast.
1960
66 years old
$1.6B
$1.59 billion (2024)
46,178
35,442 undergrad · 10,736 grad
10,814
2,178 acres
Identity
Is University of California-San Diego Worth It?
University of California-San Diego is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $12,470/year net price and $84,943 median earnings, graduates earn 6.8× 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 87% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Admission is competitive with a 27% acceptance rate, so applicants should have strong academic credentials.
Median student debt of $15,500 is manageable at just 18% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: University of California-San Diego delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of California-San Diego compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #1 of 9 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-San Diego | 100 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| #2 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 100 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| #3 | University of California-Irvine | 100 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| #4 | University of Florida | 100 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| #5 | University of California-Santa Barbara | 98 | $16,109 | $74,915 |
| #6 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | 96 | $21,565 | $86,863 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of California-San Diego's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 4 in CA.
Best Programs at University of California-San Diego
The highest-earning program at University of California-San Diego is Computer Science at $80,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Visual and Performing Arts, General at $12,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from University of California-San Diego earns $80,800, while a Visual and Performing Arts, General graduate earns $12,700. 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 Science graduates carry $18,500 in median debt vs. $18,040 for Visual and Performing Arts, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $12,470/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 Science | $80,800 | $80,800 | $18,500 |
| Computer Engineering | $77,400 | $77,400 | $19,221 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | $67,800 | $67,800 | $17,786 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $62,900 | $62,900 | $18,950 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $61,000 | $61,000 | $18,500 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $56,700 | $56,700 | $21,205 |
| Civil Engineering | $54,000 | $54,000 | $20,650 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $50,700 | $50,700 | $20,000 |
| Engineering, Other | $50,000 | $50,000 | $20,500 |
| Chemical Engineering | $48,200 | $48,200 | $19,000 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $43,300 | $43,300 | $17,953 |
| Economics | $42,000 | $42,000 | $15,000 |
| Mathematics | $39,900 | $39,900 | $18,404 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $37,700 | $37,700 | $22,519 |
| International/Global Studies | $37,500 | $37,500 | $17,153 |
| Chemistry | $37,500 | $37,500 | $16,500 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $36,900 | $36,900 | $16,500 |
| Applied Mathematics | $36,300 | $36,300 | $16,500 |
| Cognitive Science | $36,200 | $36,200 | $19,600 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $33,800 | $33,800 | $14,469 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $33,000 | $33,000 | $16,053 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,200 | $31,200 | $16,889 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $31,000 | $31,000 | $19,000 |
| Public Health | $31,000 | $31,000 | $19,833 |
| History | $30,500 | $30,500 | $18,221 |
| Biology, General | $29,000 | $29,000 | $18,619 |
| Psychology, General | $28,900 | $28,900 | $18,800 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $28,500 | $28,500 | $16,500 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $28,300 | $28,300 | $18,200 |
| Sociology | $28,300 | $28,300 | $17,527 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $27,400 | $27,400 | $17,958 |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | $27,300 | $27,300 | $15,000 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $24,000 | $24,000 | $17,500 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $22,400 | $22,400 | $22,635 |
| Physics | $21,400 | $21,400 | $17,731 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $18,500 | $18,500 | $18,750 |
| Anthropology | $16,500 | $16,500 | $15,548 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $14,800 | $14,800 | $21,278 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $12,700 | $12,700 | $18,040 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- La Jolla, CA
- Student Body
- 34,948 students
- Admission Rate
- 27%
- Graduation Rate
- 87%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $12,470
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $84,943
- Median Student Debt
- $15,500