Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at University of California-Santa Barbara by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at University of California-Santa Barbara ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
35
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$38,662
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$36,776
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
+$930,506 | $96,623 | $36,776 | $11,000 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Computer Engineering.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
+$880,542 | $94,355 | $36,776 | $14,410 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
+$762,335 | $88,523 | $36,776 | $15,571 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
+$471,529 | $73,844 | $36,776 | $13,516 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Chemical Engineering.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
+$471,051 | $73,916 | $36,776 | $14,937 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
+$469,560 | $73,907 | $36,776 | $15,908 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Applied Mathematics.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
+$429,626 | $71,984 | $36,776 | $17,000 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
+$418,153 | $71,014 | $36,776 | $11,128 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Statistics.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
+$325,791 | $66,826 | $36,776 | $17,500 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Physics.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
+$204,720 | $60,670 | $36,776 | $15,982 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
+$103,761 | $55,657 | $36,776 | $16,500 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
+$92,821 | $54,875 | $36,776 | $13,018 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Chemistry.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
+$51,919 | $53,018 | $36,776 | $15,805 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
+$28,506 | $51,928 | $36,776 | $17,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Geography and Cartography.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$32,846 | $48,641 | $36,776 | $13,750 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$54,178 | $47,759 | $36,776 | $16,485 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$72,963 | $46,823 | $36,776 | $16,533 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$74,395 | $46,620 | $36,776 | $14,586 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$116,876 | $44,609 | $36,776 | $16,261 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
International/Global Studies.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$119,273 | $44,390 | $36,776 | $14,792 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$141,229 | $43,205 | $36,776 | $13,500 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Research and Experimental Psychology.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$153,394 | $42,698 | $36,776 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$164,974 | $42,119 | $36,776 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
History.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$179,359 | $41,366 | $36,776 | $14,500 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$197,454 | $40,765 | $36,776 | $19,000 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Philosophy.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$215,934 | $39,571 | $36,776 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$234,349 | $38,954 | $36,776 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$240,009 | $38,266 | $36,776 | $13,500 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$256,499 | $37,482 | $36,776 | $14,100 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$277,524 | $36,625 | $36,776 | $16,978 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$278,676 | $36,606 | $36,776 | $17,550 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Zoology/Animal Biology.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$316,284 | $33,541 | $36,776 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Area Studies.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$337,184 | $34,028 | $36,776 | $22,697 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$359,959 | $32,201 | $36,776 | $12,500 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 85.5% |
-$464,274 | $27,279 | $36,776 | $16,852 | 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.