Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at University of California-Santa Cruz by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at University of California-Santa Cruz ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
30
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$70,837
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$38,649
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Computer Engineering.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
+$850,784 | $93,848 | $38,649 | $23,392 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
+$694,044 | $85,557 | $38,649 | $16,666 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
+$622,629 | $82,012 | $38,649 | $17,048 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
+$380,657 | $70,114 | $38,649 | $20,020 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Biomedical/Medical Engineering.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
+$340,549 | $68,276 | $38,649 | $22,500 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
+$298,020 | $65,929 | $38,649 | $19,232 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Business/Managerial Economics.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
+$211,949 | $61,441 | $38,649 | $16,500 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Chemistry.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
+$80,114 | $54,748 | $38,649 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
+$23,341 | $52,113 | $38,649 | $18,017 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$36,260 | $49,323 | $38,649 | $20,833 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$83,931 | $46,666 | $38,649 | $16,782 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Neurobiology and Neurosciences.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$88,261 | $46,633 | $38,649 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate).
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$94,397 | $46,253 | $38,649 | $18,416 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$112,586 | $45,383 | $38,649 | $19,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$197,171 | $41,120 | $38,649 | $18,500 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$214,474 | $40,339 | $38,649 | $19,747 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$224,245 | $39,915 | $38,649 | $20,703 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$234,710 | $39,274 | $38,649 | $18,959 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$235,411 | $39,073 | $38,649 | $16,500 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Community Organization and Advocacy.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$243,678 | $38,744 | $38,649 | $17,750 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Cognitive Science.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$245,981 | $38,747 | $38,649 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$254,993 | $38,256 | $38,649 | $18,902 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$394,468 | $31,187 | $38,649 | $17,491 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$401,933 | $30,908 | $38,649 | $18,887 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$410,007 | $30,436 | $38,649 | $17,875 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$414,221 | $30,335 | $38,649 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$414,648 | $30,107 | $38,649 | $16,439 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
History.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$421,892 | $29,869 | $38,649 | $18,279 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Philosophy.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$451,269 | $28,235 | $38,649 | $15,832 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$452,681 | $28,412 | $38,649 | $19,500 | 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.