University of California-Santa Cruz
Comprehensive ROI analysis based on tuition costs, graduate earnings, financial aid, and long-term earning potential.
ROI Summary
Total 4-Year Cost
$58,240
In-state tuition x 4
Earnings Premium
$14,716/yr
vs high school diploma avg
Break-Even Point
4 years
After graduation
20-Year ROI
405%
Return on investment
ROI Analysis
One year after graduation, University of California-Santa Cruz alumni earn a median of $37,107, which is 2.6 times the in-state tuition cost of $14,560. Five years after graduation, earnings increase to $49,716, and ten years after graduation, earnings reach $68,396. The median debt for graduates is $16,666, and 29.4% of students receive financial aid.
The debt-to-income ratio, calculated by dividing the median debt by the one-year earnings, is 0.45. This means the median debt is 45% of the one-year earnings.
To calculate the break-even point, the median debt of $16,666 is divided by the difference between the one-year earnings of $37,107 and the tuition cost of $14,560, resulting in a break-even timeline of approximately 0.74 years.
Generated from College Scorecard & IPEDS data
The Numbers
Annual Tuition (In-State)
$14,560
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,666
Median Earnings (5yr)
$49,716
Graduation Rate
76%
Receive Financial Aid
29%
Avg Aid Amount
$0
Program-Level ROI
| Program | 4yr Cost | Median Earnings (5yr) | Est. 20yr ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | $58,240 | $48,247 | 355% |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences. | $58,240 | $60,883 | 789% |
| Business/Managerial Economics. | $58,240 | $78,567 | 1396% |
| Sociology. | $58,240 | $47,904 | 343% |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | $58,240 | $49,828 | 409% |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. | $58,240 | $38,878 | 33% |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. | $58,240 | $34,586 | N/A |
| Biology, General. | $58,240 | $52,707 | 508% |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | $58,240 | $49,977 | 414% |
| Economics. | $58,240 | $73,904 | 1236% |
| Political Science and Government. | $58,240 | $53,304 | 529% |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology. | $58,240 | $35,013 | -100% |
Peer Comparison
405%
20yr ROI
735%
20yr ROI
653%
20yr ROI
472%
20yr ROI
915%
20yr ROI
Financial Aid Impact
Before Aid
After Aid (Estimated)
Methodology
ROI calculations are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. The earnings premium is calculated as the difference between median graduate earnings and the national average earnings for high school diploma holders ($35,000).
The 20-year ROI formula: ((Earnings Premium x 20) - Total Cost) / Total Cost x 100. Break-even point: Total Cost / Annual Earnings Premium. All figures use in-state tuition and do not account for inflation, opportunity cost, or financial aid variations.