College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA 34,948 Undergrads 89.6% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$38,701
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,470
After Aid
Median Earnings
$83,130
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,470
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$83,130
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$84,943
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate89.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.8
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients33.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS81.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
26.7%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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
+$714k
+$247k
+$230k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$669k
+$202k
+$185k
Full Cost$39k/yr
+$575k
+$108k
+$91k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
31
412%
Full Cost$39k/yr
41
65%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return216%

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 Return5%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,008
Earnings (4yr)
$100,173
Natl Median: $98,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$315k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,982
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$15,249
Earnings (4yr)
$85,233
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,359
Earnings (4yr)
$72,491
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Median Debt
$18,716
Earnings (4yr)
$111,677
Natl Median: $83,998
Lifetime Value Added
+$402k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,450
Earnings (4yr)
$64,437
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$123,320
Natl Median: $86,713
Lifetime Value Added
+$491k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$98,687
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$304k
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$96,798
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$289k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$16,050
Earnings (4yr)
$77,249
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$16,400
Earnings (4yr)
$91,745
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$251k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,000
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
$17,427
Earnings (4yr)
$81,160
Natl Median: $81,496
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Median Debt
$13,193
Earnings (4yr)
$67,302
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Median Debt
$18,414
Earnings (4yr)
$149,139
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$685k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$16,166
Earnings (4yr)
$159,487
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$762k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,643
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,458
Earnings (4yr)
$41,389
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Median Debt
$18,367
Earnings (4yr)
$52,701
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$14,667
Earnings (4yr)
$87,307
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$118,150
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$452k
Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,154
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Science
BachCIP: 1413
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,782
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
BachCIP: 1499
Median Debt
$18,954
Earnings (4yr)
$88,159
Natl Median: $93,989
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Median Debt
$13,555
Earnings (4yr)
$56,097
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,900
Natl Median: $46,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Median Debt
$24,237
Earnings (4yr)
$53,319
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Median Debt
$14,833
Earnings (4yr)
$48,506
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$16,756
Earnings (4yr)
$61,745
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,262
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$81,174
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,497
Earnings (4yr)
$55,776
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
$15,127
Earnings (4yr)
$89,451
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k
Median Debt
$18,887
Earnings (4yr)
$137,218
Natl Median: $118,943
Lifetime Value Added
+$595k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$79,015
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$104,229
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$346k
Median Debt
$13,811
Earnings (4yr)
$64,428
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,071
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,061
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,799
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$95,018
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$276k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,713
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$15,446
Earnings (4yr)
$51,679
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Psychology, Other
BachCIP: 4299
Median Debt
$19,033
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,748
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,110
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,061
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,814
Earnings (4yr)
$63,130
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,534
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$18,583
Earnings (4yr)
$96,746
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$289k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,499
Earnings (4yr)
$71,380
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,915
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
$19,968
Earnings (4yr)
$64,822
Natl Median: $47,629
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,434
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,482
Earnings (4yr)
$87,940
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Median Debt
$37,282
Earnings (4yr)
$127,935
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$460k
Median Debt
$92,221
Earnings (4yr)
$149,271
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$645k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,139
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$112,223
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$324k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,757
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$201,287
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$1093k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$173,180
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$851k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$25,903
Earnings (4yr)
$231,397
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$1341k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,041
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$249k
Median Debt
$34,436
Earnings (4yr)
$66,412
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$31,045
Earnings (4yr)
$73,566
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Median Debt
$34,311
Earnings (4yr)
$169,987
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$824k
Engineering Physics
MastCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $114,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$158,915
Natl Median: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$728k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$145,693
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$614k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$44,160
Earnings (4yr)
$101,102
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Materials Sciences
MastCIP: 4010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,810
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$128,129
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$462k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$132,783
Natl Median: $198,417
Lifetime Value Added
+$502k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,242
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,918
Natl Median: $59,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$307k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$129,900
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $153,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$135,080
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
+$289k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$136,333
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
+$318k
Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$130,000
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
Cognitive Science
DocCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,884
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,931
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,704
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$162,229
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$484k
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$131,358
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
+$281k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $139,646
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,482
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
DocCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $140,028
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$100,332
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,871
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,534
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $193,221
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Materials Sciences
DocCIP: 4010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,084
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Medicine
DocCIP: 5112
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$118,330
Natl Median: $118,504
Lifetime Value Added
+$185k
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,693
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$148,833
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$409k
Median Debt
$137,223
Earnings (4yr)
$165,543
Natl Median: $136,696
Lifetime Value Added
+$532k
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$166,997
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
+$543k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,566
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,489
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,034
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Biology, General
DegCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,021
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,768
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DegCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,609
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.