University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, California · Public · 34,948 undergraduates
Of 79 programs with reported earnings, 78 leave graduates out-earning a typical California high-school graduate (about $36,976/yr) and 1 fall short. Another 121 programs did not have enough data to judge.
What families actually pay
| Family income | Net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $7,525 |
| $30k to $48k | $8,155 |
| $48k to $75k | $9,942 |
| $75k to $110k | $15,199 |
| $110k and up | $28,785 |
| All families (average) | $12,470 |
Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). Credit: TuitionTracker.
Program earnings vs a high-school graduate
| Program | Credential | Median earnings | vs HS grad | Verdict | Median debt | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Science | Bachelor's Degree | $81,160 | +$44,184 | clears the bar | $17,427 | 0.4 yrs |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $159,487 | +$122,511 | clears the bar | $16,166 | 0.1 yrs |
| International/Globalization Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $81,174 | +$44,198 | clears the bar | $15,500 | 0.4 yrs |
| Economics | Bachelor's Degree | $87,307 | +$50,331 | clears the bar | $14,667 | 0.3 yrs |
| Political Science and Government | Bachelor's Degree | $67,713 | +$30,737 | clears the bar | $15,000 | 0.5 yrs |
| Chemistry | Bachelor's Degree | $77,249 | +$40,273 | clears the bar | $16,050 | 0.4 yrs |
| Public Health | Bachelor's Degree | $66,110 | +$29,134 | clears the bar | $15,000 | 0.5 yrs |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $64,437 | +$27,461 | clears the bar | $17,450 | 0.6 yrs |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $51,679 | +$14,703 | clears the bar | $15,446 | 1.1 yrs |
| Communication and Media Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $67,302 | +$30,326 | clears the bar | $13,193 | 0.4 yrs |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $137,218 | +$100,242 | clears the bar | $18,887 | 0.2 yrs |
| Mathematics | Bachelor's Degree | $79,015 | +$42,039 | clears the bar | $16,250 | 0.4 yrs |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $118,150 | +$81,174 | clears the bar | $20,000 | 0.2 yrs |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | Bachelor's Degree | $56,000 | +$19,024 | clears the bar | $15,000 | 0.8 yrs |
| Computer Science | Master's Degree | $231,397 | +$194,421 | clears the bar | $25,903 | 0.1 yrs |
Showing the 15 largest programs by graduates. See all 79 on the full profile.
Access and outcomes: 34% of students receive Pell grants · 86% complete their program.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10). Earnings are median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing, compared to the state high-school-graduate earnings threshold. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Something look wrong? Report it.