Best International/Global Studies Degrees in California by ROI
Colleges in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in California
6
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$152,385
Across California programs
Average Annual Cost
$44,340
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
University of California-Los Angeles
Grad rate: 92.6% |
+$67,928 | $53,535 | $36,643 | $12,000 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
University of California-San Diego
Grad rate: 87.7% |
+$22,845 | $51,521 | $36,325 | $16,500 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
University of California-Santa Barbara
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$119,273 | $44,390 | $36,776 | $14,792 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
University of California-Irvine
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$122,231 | $44,142 | $36,121 | $15,250 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Pepperdine University
Grad rate: 84.4% |
-$372,408 | $42,175 | $85,202 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
University of California-Riverside
Grad rate: 76.3% |
-$391,175 | $30,820 | $34,975 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best International/Global Studies Degrees by State
Browse International/Global Studies programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.