College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA 23,113 Undergrads 87.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$41,573
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,109
After Aid
Median Earnings
$70,323
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,109
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$70,323
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$74,915
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate87.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients28.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS79.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
33.0%
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
+$616k
+$149k
+$132k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$558k
+$91k
+$74k
Full Cost$42k/yr
+$467k
-$180
-$18k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
38
128%
Full Cost$42k/yr
Never
-12%
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 Return71%

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-39%
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

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,238
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$109,360
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$372k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$22,697
Earnings (4yr)
$59,042
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Median Debt
$11,750
Earnings (4yr)
$90,694
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,520
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,001
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Median Debt
$14,937
Earnings (4yr)
$113,317
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$402k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$15,805
Earnings (4yr)
$74,713
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,976
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Median Debt
$14,410
Earnings (4yr)
$144,703
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$638k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$149,190
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$672k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,858
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Median Debt
$16,667
Earnings (4yr)
$44,106
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,750
Earnings (4yr)
$50,694
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$13,440
Earnings (4yr)
$98,178
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$287k
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$117,215
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$431k
Median Debt
$16,892
Earnings (4yr)
$59,334
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Median Debt
$13,250
Earnings (4yr)
$59,004
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,893
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
$15,459
Earnings (4yr)
$46,428
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,521
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Median Debt
$16,298
Earnings (4yr)
$66,788
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$14,282
Earnings (4yr)
$59,342
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$14,724
Earnings (4yr)
$66,127
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,580
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Median Debt
$11,128
Earnings (4yr)
$96,078
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$85,391
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$104,336
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$334k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,941
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$90,061
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$33,825
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
Median Debt
$16,200
Earnings (4yr)
$63,628
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$98,462
Natl Median: $68,883
Lifetime Value Added
+$289k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,796
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$15,965
Earnings (4yr)
$85,219
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,172
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,033
Earnings (4yr)
$70,384
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,377
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,171
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Median Debt
$16,601
Earnings (4yr)
$68,496
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,013
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$17,167
Earnings (4yr)
$90,778
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,727
Natl Median: $44,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k

Master's Degrees

Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,874
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$747
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
MastCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,219
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
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)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$32,485
Earnings (4yr)
$88,781
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, Other
MastCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,796
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Education, General
Gr-CertCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$23,291
Earnings (4yr)
$72,416
Natl Median: $69,448
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Psychology, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,208
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,578
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $141,187
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$94,408
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,931
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 (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,989
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,797
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,345
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,469
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Materials Sciences
DocCIP: 4010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$164,651
Natl Median: $144,084
Lifetime Value Added
+$512k
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
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$95,688
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, Other
DocCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$106,003
Natl Median: $100,857
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,108
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,164
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
Statistics
DocCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $156,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,224
Natl Median: $56,308
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,636
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.