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
27
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$95,045
Across California programs
Average Annual Cost
$15,696
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
California State University-Fresno
Grad rate: 55.5% |
+$300,450 | $57,955 | $18,650 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 | United States University | +$106,102 | $48,723 | $28,358 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Folsom Lake College
Grad rate: 38.6% |
+$96,527 | $47,438 | $12,233 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Mission College
Grad rate: 42.6% |
+$89,073 | $47,206 | $15,047 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
San Diego Miramar College
Grad rate: 43.1% |
+$10,337 | $43,527 | $11,428 | $6,500 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Santiago Canyon College
Grad rate: 46.3% |
-$482 | $42,978 | $12,617 | $5,500 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Orange Coast College
Grad rate: 45.2% |
-$3,031 | $42,508 | $13,191 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Los Angeles Valley College
Grad rate: 36.0% |
-$24,303 | $42,332 | $18,625 | $9,125 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Napa Valley College
Grad rate: 31.7% |
-$39,023 | $41,127 | $21,563 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Modesto Junior College
Grad rate: 25.4% |
-$53,486 | $40,541 | $14,769 | $7,065 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Hartnell College
Grad rate: 31.0% |
-$54,925 | $40,295 | $12,050 | $6,500 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Riverside City College
Grad rate: 32.3% |
-$66,727 | $39,285 | $12,427 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
College of the Canyons
Grad rate: 43.4% |
-$79,605 | $39,055 | $10,243 | $7,750 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
American River College
Grad rate: 29.5% |
-$93,166 | $37,991 | $12,986 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Shasta College
Grad rate: 30.2% |
-$99,486 | $38,261 | $11,881 | $9,500 | 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 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.