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University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA 33,040 Undergrads 93.1% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$36,643
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,013
After Aid
Median Earnings
$82,511
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$14,013
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$82,511
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate93.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.4%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
8.7%
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
+$685k
+$289k
+$201k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$635k
+$238k
+$150k
Full Cost$37k/yr
+$553k
+$157k
+$69k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
32
298%
Full Cost$37k/yr
43
52%
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 Return192%
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-2%
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
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$97,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$14,579
Earnings (5yr)
$55,070
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$14,400
Earnings (5yr)
$95,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$261k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,803
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$17,090
Earnings (5yr)
$60,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
BachCIP: 4004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,126
Lifetime Value Added
-$241k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$14,753
Earnings (5yr)
$76,967
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$15,527
Earnings (5yr)
$75,609
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (5yr)
$114,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$402k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$17,332
Earnings (5yr)
$118,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$427k
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
BachCIP: 2604
Median Debt
$15,277
Earnings (5yr)
$64,799
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (5yr)
$105,166
Lifetime Value Added
+$332k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,376
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$17,529
Earnings (5yr)
$102,084
Lifetime Value Added
+$309k
Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$78,267
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$15,156
Earnings (5yr)
$218,770
Lifetime Value Added
+$1166k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (5yr)
$191,628
Lifetime Value Added
+$970k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$85,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$16,825
Earnings (5yr)
$28,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$267k
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
$13,900
Earnings (5yr)
$56,910
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$100,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$16,979
Earnings (5yr)
$127,528
Lifetime Value Added
+$498k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$13,534
Earnings (5yr)
$59,794
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$14,820
Earnings (5yr)
$61,195
Lifetime Value Added
+$857
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$16,082
Earnings (5yr)
$66,565
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$13,977
Earnings (5yr)
$46,122
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$13,296
Earnings (5yr)
$68,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$286k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (5yr)
$65,039
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Human Biology
BachCIP: 3027
Median Debt
$12,750
Earnings (5yr)
$81,505
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,658
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$72,162
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Literature
BachCIP: 2314
Median Debt
$13,328
Earnings (5yr)
$36,428
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$14,920
Earnings (5yr)
$91,295
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$108,947
Lifetime Value Added
+$360k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
$14,545
Earnings (5yr)
$77,994
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$14,775
Earnings (5yr)
$85,005
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,858
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$17,806
Earnings (5yr)
$80,496
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$16,674
Earnings (5yr)
$79,689
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,585
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$80,500
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$16,900
Earnings (5yr)
$77,228
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$75,578
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$14,388
Earnings (5yr)
$65,954
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$19,420
Earnings (5yr)
$123,885
Lifetime Value Added
+$471k
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
$16,570
Earnings (5yr)
$78,384
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,038
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$14,453
Earnings (5yr)
$64,677
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$15,811
Earnings (5yr)
$94,154
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Master's Degrees
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$161,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$938k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$84,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$276k
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,216
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$97,335
Earnings (5yr)
$212,869
Lifetime Value Added
+$1369k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
$51,793
Earnings (5yr)
$90,536
Lifetime Value Added
+$332k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$100,592
Lifetime Value Added
+$419k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$287,429
Lifetime Value Added
+$1955k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$15,552
Lifetime Value Added
-$355k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$33,087
Earnings (5yr)
$77,986
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$40,304
Earnings (5yr)
$144,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$792k
Engineering, General
MastCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$160,755
Lifetime Value Added
+$930k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
MastCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$92,809
Earnings (5yr)
$67,538
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,398
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Library Science, Other
MastCIP: 2599
Median Debt
$56,259
Earnings (5yr)
$69,081
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$133,046
Lifetime Value Added
+$696k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$37,820
Earnings (5yr)
$28,799
Lifetime Value Added
-$232k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$52,445
Earnings (5yr)
$114,617
Lifetime Value Added
+$539k
Public Policy Analysis
MastCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$103,568
Lifetime Value Added
+$444k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$50,511
Earnings (5yr)
$127,653
Lifetime Value Added
+$650k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$53,583
Earnings (5yr)
$82,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Graduate Certificates
Legal Support Services
Gr-CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,675
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Doctoral Degrees
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
DocCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$134,874
Lifetime Value Added
+$498k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
DocCIP: 1405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$93,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$117,249
Lifetime Value Added
+$371k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
DocCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$80,391
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$66,580
Earnings (5yr)
$108,918
Lifetime Value Added
+$311k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$72,829
Earnings (5yr)
$133,553
Lifetime Value Added
+$489k
English Language and Literature, General
DocCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,516
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
DocCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Mechanical Engineering
DocCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$165,864
Lifetime Value Added
+$721k
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,696
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Political Science and Government
DocCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$93,867
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$133,209
Lifetime Value Added
+$486k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$70,000
Earnings (2yr)
$106,421
Lifetime Value Added
+$340k
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$60,839
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Professional Degrees
Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$222,633
Earnings (5yr)
$132,919
Lifetime Value Added
+$484k
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$135,373
Earnings (5yr)
$172,729
Lifetime Value Added
+$771k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$163,032
Earnings (5yr)
$178,507
Lifetime Value Added
+$812k
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.