Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities 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
42
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$232,857
Across California programs
Average Annual Cost
$37,277
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$38,843 | $51,107 | $29,918 | $17,500 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Chapman University
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$20,132 | $59,272 | $81,327 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
California State University-Stanislaus
Grad rate: 56.6% |
+$5,955 | $46,936 | $18,542 | $13,775 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Sonoma State University
Grad rate: 60.1% |
-$41,811 | $45,971 | $24,739 | $16,500 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
San Francisco State University
Grad rate: 52.2% |
-$51,592 | $45,516 | $25,258 | $15,467 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
California State University-East Bay
Grad rate: 45.5% |
-$123,756 | $41,449 | $22,803 | $15,944 | Full ROI → |
| 7 | Antioch University-Los Angeles | -$138,493 | $37,089 | N/A | $29,832 | Full ROI → |
| 8 | Antioch University-Santa Barbara | -$138,493 | $37,089 | N/A | $29,832 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
California State University-Northridge
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$140,038 | $40,074 | $20,317 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
California State University-Fresno
Grad rate: 55.5% |
-$140,803 | $39,612 | $18,650 | $13,662 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
California State University-Long Beach
Grad rate: 71.3% |
-$141,285 | $40,044 | $20,310 | $15,500 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Loyola Marymount University
Grad rate: 80.6% |
-$149,768 | $49,685 | $75,867 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
California State University-Monterey Bay
Grad rate: 62.4% |
-$153,210 | $40,471 | $26,017 | $13,750 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
San Jose State University
Grad rate: 66.2% |
-$156,140 | $39,332 | $25,695 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Saint Mary's College of California
Grad rate: 70.4% |
-$169,130 | $50,097 | $73,655 | $27,000 | 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 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees by State
Browse Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.