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University of California-Davis
Davis, CA 31,777 Undergrads 88.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$38,067
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,288
After Aid
Median Earnings
$80,838
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$15,288
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$80,838
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate88.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients31.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.0%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
41.6%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$673k
+$276k
+$188k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$618k
+$221k
+$133k
Full Cost$38k/yr
+$536k
+$139k
+$51k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
33
242%
Full Cost$38k/yr
46
37%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return164%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-10%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$18,748
Earnings (5yr)
$98,457
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
Agricultural Production Operations
BachCIP: 0103
Median Debt
$10,999
Earnings (5yr)
$58,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,122
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,777
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$95,412
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$87,815
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,924
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$15,979
Earnings (5yr)
$105,286
Lifetime Value Added
+$328k
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
$12,843
Earnings (5yr)
$93,489
Lifetime Value Added
+$240k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$12,917
Earnings (5yr)
$91,429
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
BachCIP: 2604
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$72,879
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (5yr)
$109,456
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$81,776
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (5yr)
$98,091
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$75,758
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$143,465
Lifetime Value Added
+$611k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$12,703
Earnings (5yr)
$146,640
Lifetime Value Added
+$634k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$14,924
Earnings (5yr)
$67,513
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,690
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (5yr)
$56,513
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
$19,591
Earnings (5yr)
$52,700
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$86,559
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$14,939
Earnings (5yr)
$124,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$473k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,377
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,498
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,629
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$13,981
Earnings (5yr)
$46,486
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Food Science and Technology
BachCIP: 0110
Median Debt
$14,666
Earnings (5yr)
$72,469
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Genetics
BachCIP: 2608
Median Debt
$13,848
Earnings (5yr)
$78,152
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,050
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$13,312
Earnings (5yr)
$54,357
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
International Agriculture
BachCIP: 0107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,781
Lifetime Value Added
-$231k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,661
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Landscape Architecture
BachCIP: 0406
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,277
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,785
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$13,798
Earnings (5yr)
$41,582
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$11,932
Earnings (5yr)
$62,895
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$13,867
Earnings (5yr)
$99,885
Lifetime Value Added
+$288k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$90,315
Lifetime Value Added
+$216k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$40,840
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other
BachCIP: 0399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$74,836
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$12,917
Earnings (5yr)
$67,848
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$14,166
Earnings (5yr)
$65,993
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Pharmacology and Toxicology
BachCIP: 2610
Median Debt
$12,072
Earnings (5yr)
$73,345
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
BachCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$13,065
Earnings (5yr)
$82,523
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (2yr)
$28,960
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$14,354
Earnings (5yr)
$80,618
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$14,154
Earnings (5yr)
$74,551
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,852
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$13,687
Earnings (5yr)
$65,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Psychology, Other
BachCIP: 4299
Median Debt
$14,059
Earnings (5yr)
$64,230
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other
BachCIP: 4499
Median Debt
$14,171
Earnings (5yr)
$63,217
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
$12,866
Earnings (5yr)
$62,401
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$14,235
Earnings (5yr)
$53,788
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599
Median Debt
$12,580
Earnings (5yr)
$65,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$12,600
Earnings (5yr)
$59,319
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$14,917
Earnings (5yr)
$107,082
Lifetime Value Added
+$341k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$49,971
Earnings (5yr)
$93,918
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$93,512
Earnings (5yr)
$161,298
Lifetime Value Added
+$933k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$19,591
Earnings (5yr)
$101,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$428k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$69,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$97,959
Lifetime Value Added
+$445k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,639
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Food Science and Technology
MastCIP: 0110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,959
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
MastCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$147,104
Earnings (5yr)
$175,076
Lifetime Value Added
+$1049k
International Agriculture
MastCIP: 0107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,183
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$112,967
Lifetime Value Added
+$522k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$28,522
Earnings (5yr)
$75,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$50,303
Earnings (5yr)
$172,861
Lifetime Value Added
+$1030k
Security Science and Technology
MastCIP: 4304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,518
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
Doctoral Degrees
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$136,811
Lifetime Value Added
+$508k
Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$70,456
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
DocCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,734
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$113,537
Lifetime Value Added
+$340k
English Language and Literature, General
DocCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
DocCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Nutrition Sciences
DocCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$104,749
Lifetime Value Added
+$322k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
DocCIP: 2609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,168
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
DocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$97,476
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$92,689
Earnings (5yr)
$120,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$392k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$126,027
Earnings (5yr)
$202,075
Lifetime Value Added
+$977k
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
ProfCIP: 0181
Median Debt
$135,517
Earnings (5yr)
$128,817
Lifetime Value Added
+$450k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.