University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California · Public · 17,940 undergraduates
Of 40 programs with reported earnings, 38 leave graduates out-earning a typical California high-school graduate (about $36,976/yr) and 2 fall short. Another 95 programs did not have enough data to judge.
What families actually pay
| Family income | Net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $8,717 |
| $30k to $48k | $10,613 |
| $48k to $75k | $14,418 |
| $75k to $110k | $18,986 |
| $110k and up | $33,323 |
| All families (average) | $17,890 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $123,422 | +$86,446 | clears the bar | $16,499 | 0.2 yrs |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $59,948 | +$22,972 | clears the bar | $18,902 | 0.8 yrs |
| Business/Managerial Economics | Bachelor's Degree | $82,064 | +$45,088 | clears the bar | $16,519 | 0.4 yrs |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | Bachelor's Degree | $69,849 | +$32,873 | clears the bar | $18,534 | 0.6 yrs |
| Sociology | Bachelor's Degree | $55,338 | +$18,362 | clears the bar | $15,679 | 0.9 yrs |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | Bachelor's Degree | $49,763 | +$12,787 | clears the bar | $16,740 | 1.3 yrs |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $65,036 | +$28,060 | clears the bar | $20,500 | 0.7 yrs |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $45,815 | +$8,839 | clears the bar | $15,692 | 1.8 yrs |
| Political Science and Government | Bachelor's Degree | $65,890 | +$28,914 | clears the bar | $16,703 | 0.6 yrs |
| Economics | Bachelor's Degree | $76,382 | +$39,406 | clears the bar | $18,017 | 0.5 yrs |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Bachelor's Degree | $55,240 | +$18,264 | clears the bar | $18,487 | 1 yr |
| Computer Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $124,641 | +$87,665 | clears the bar | $23,434 | 0.3 yrs |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $66,244 | +$29,268 | clears the bar | $17,883 | 0.6 yrs |
| Cognitive Science | Bachelor's Degree | $72,125 | +$35,149 | clears the bar | $18,981 | 0.5 yrs |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | Bachelor's Degree | $49,821 | +$12,845 | clears the bar | $17,589 | 1.4 yrs |
Showing the 15 largest programs by graduates. See all 40 on the full profile.
Access and outcomes: 32% of students receive Pell grants · 75% 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.