University of California-Santa Cruz
University of California-Santa Cruz — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of California-Santa Cruz at a Glance
The University of California, Santa Cruz is a public land-grant research university in Santa Cruz, California, United States. It is one of the ten campuses in the University of California system. Located in Monterey Bay, on the edge of the coastal community of Santa Cruz, the main campus lies on 2,001 acres (810 ha) of rolling, forested hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean. As of Fall 2024, its ten residential colleges enroll some 17,940 undergraduate and 1,998 graduate students. Satellite facili…
1965
61 years old
$360M
$359.62 million (2025)
19,938
17,940 undergrad · 1,998 grad
6,088 acres
Identity
Is University of California-Santa Cruz Worth It?
University of California-Santa Cruz delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $17,890/year, it's priced 12% below average, while graduates go on to earn $68,396 — 27% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 75% graduation rate means roughly 25% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: University of California-Santa Cruz delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of California-Santa Cruz compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #15 of 41 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 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 100 | $11,531 | $71,902 |
| #2 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #3 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #4 | Florida Atlantic University | 100 | $8,752 | $56,746 |
| #5 | CUNY Brooklyn College | 100 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| #6 | CUNY City College | 100 | $3,776 | $66,039 |
| #15 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 71 | $17,890 | $68,396 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of California-Santa Cruz's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in CA.
Best Programs at University of California-Santa Cruz
The highest-earning program at University of California-Santa Cruz is Computer Engineering at $70,000/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $19,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Engineering graduate from University of California-Santa Cruz earns $70,000, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $19,000. 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 Engineering graduates carry $22,750 in median debt vs. $19,977 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $17,890/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 Engineering | $70,000 | $70,000 | $22,750 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $67,800 | $67,800 | $22,400 |
| Computer Science | $62,100 | $62,100 | $19,000 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $52,000 | $52,000 | $21,416 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $49,700 | $49,700 | $18,000 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $44,100 | $44,100 | $21,666 |
| Economics | $37,700 | $37,700 | $18,455 |
| Chemistry | $37,000 | $37,000 | $21,495 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $36,700 | $36,700 | $22,417 |
| Mathematics | $35,700 | $35,700 | $18,500 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $33,700 | $33,700 | $19,353 |
| Political Science and Government | $33,100 | $33,100 | $17,725 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $32,700 | $32,700 | $14,474 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $30,900 | $30,900 | $19,000 |
| Cognitive Science | $30,700 | $30,700 | $15,250 |
| Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) | $29,800 | $29,800 | $21,178 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $27,800 | $27,800 | $19,000 |
| Philosophy | $27,700 | $27,700 | $19,643 |
| Biology, General | $27,600 | $27,600 | $20,500 |
| Anthropology | $26,400 | $26,400 | $19,000 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $25,900 | $25,900 | $22,106 |
| Sociology | $25,900 | $25,900 | $19,000 |
| Psychology, General | $25,800 | $25,800 | $19,516 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $24,600 | $24,600 | $22,333 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $23,600 | $23,600 | $19,500 |
| History | $23,200 | $23,200 | $19,460 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $20,800 | $20,800 | $20,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,865 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $19,300 | $19,300 | $22,349 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $19,000 | $19,000 | $19,977 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Student Body
- 17,940 students
- Admission Rate
- 66%
- Graduation Rate
- 75%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $17,890
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $68,396
- Median Student Debt
- $16,666