Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at University of California-Irvine by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at University of California-Irvine ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
43
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$19,967
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$36,121
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$915,066 | $95,882 | $36,121 | $13,400 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$727,671 | $86,654 | $36,121 | $15,500 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Management Information Systems and Services.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$693,321 | $85,004 | $36,121 | $16,500 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Computer Engineering.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$595,551 | $80,300 | $36,121 | $19,233 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$594,066 | $80,210 | $36,121 | $19,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$544,173 | $77,712 | $36,121 | $18,950 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$538,836 | $77,516 | $36,121 | $20,000 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$489,581 | $74,682 | $36,121 | $14,500 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Chemical Engineering.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$488,981 | $74,922 | $36,121 | $18,500 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$423,661 | $71,737 | $36,121 | $19,700 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Biomedical/Medical Engineering.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$420,759 | $71,436 | $36,121 | $17,390 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Design and Applied Arts.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$343,936 | $66,421 | $36,121 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$224,546 | $61,329 | $36,121 | $13,000 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$142,446 | $57,629 | $36,121 | $19,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Business/Managerial Economics.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$42,266 | $52,350 | $36,121 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Urban Studies/Affairs.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$32,446 | $51,859 | $36,121 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$19,567 | $49,292 | $36,121 | $15,499 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$25,634 | $48,955 | $36,121 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Chemistry.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$44,166 | $47,912 | $36,121 | $13,276 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
History.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$55,748 | $47,512 | $36,121 | $15,929 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$70,319 | $46,849 | $36,121 | $16,900 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$110,099 | $44,819 | $36,121 | $16,293 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Social Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$112,800 | $44,687 | $36,121 | $16,338 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
International/Global Studies.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$122,231 | $44,142 | $36,121 | $15,250 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$123,207 | $43,906 | $36,121 | $12,477 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Criminology.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$125,521 | $44,019 | $36,121 | $15,865 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Public Health.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$160,078 | $42,387 | $36,121 | $17,285 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Education, General.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$179,950 | $41,278 | $36,121 | $15,575 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Research and Experimental Psychology.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$192,374 | $40,483 | $36,121 | $13,000 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$225,364 | $39,081 | $36,121 | $16,667 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Philosophy.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$228,525 | $39,398 | $36,121 | $23,705 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$260,312 | $37,311 | $36,121 | $16,332 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$261,169 | $36,807 | $36,121 | $9,500 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$273,614 | $36,556 | $36,121 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$329,549 | $33,847 | $36,121 | $16,300 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$334,496 | $33,504 | $36,121 | $14,883 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$365,401 | $32,181 | $36,121 | $18,176 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$371,611 | $31,926 | $36,121 | $18,998 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$390,009 | $30,738 | $36,121 | $15,026 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$404,791 | $30,175 | $36,121 | $17,635 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$465,149 | $27,031 | $36,121 | $15,767 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$550,177 | $22,921 | $36,121 | $17,862 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Dance.
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$556,832 | $22,738 | $36,121 | $20,080 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.