Best Urban Studies/Affairs 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
5
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$131,180
Across California programs
Average Annual Cost
$32,145
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
University of California-Berkeley
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$235,628 | $63,298 | $42,708 | $14,444 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
San Francisco State University
Grad rate: 52.2% |
+$208,278 | $58,721 | $25,258 | $18,600 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
California State University-Northridge
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$113,935 | $52,679 | $20,317 | $13,612 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
University of California-San Diego
Grad rate: 87.7% |
+$65,615 | $53,727 | $36,325 | $17,500 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
University of California-Irvine
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$32,446 | $51,859 | $36,121 | $15,000 | 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 Urban Studies/Affairs Degrees by State
Browse Urban Studies/Affairs programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.