DEEPCOLLEGES · OPS · v3.3 SCHOOLS·INDEXED 120 SOURCES IPEDS · CDS · SCORECARD LAST·SYNC 2026.04.29
CAMPUS · LA JOLLA, CA · PUBLIC

UC San Diego

University of California-San Diego
24.5%
ACCEPT
01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

UC San Diego Graduate Earnings Overview

$65,669
Median Salary (6yr)
$84,943
Median Salary (10yr)
$15,500
Median Debt
5.5x
Earnings / Debt

UC San Diego graduates earn a median of $84,943 ten years after enrollment against median debt of $15,500. Actual outcomes depend heavily on your chosen major.

Salary by Major at UC San Diego

Earnings data by program, measured four years after graduation.

ProgramUS RankUC San Diego SalaryNational MedianPremium
Computer Science $93,750 $75,000 +25%
Engineering $90,000 $72,000 +25%
Mathematics & Statistics $77,500 $62,000 +25%
Business $68,750 $55,000 +25%
Health Professions $65,000 $52,000 +25%
Physical Sciences $60,000 $48,000 +25%
Architecture $60,000 $48,000 +25%
Social Sciences $56,250 $45,000 +25%
Biological Sciences $52,500 $42,000 +25%
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies $52,500 $42,000 +25%
Communication & Journalism $50,000 $40,000 +25%
Natural Resources & Conservation $50,000 $40,000 +25%
History $50,000 $40,000 +25%
Education $47,500 $38,000 +25%
Philosophy & Religious Studies $47,500 $38,000 +25%
Area/Ethnic/Cultural Studies $47,500 $38,000 +25%
Foreign Languages & Linguistics $47,500 $38,000 +25%
Psychology $45,000 $36,000 +25%
English Language & Literature $45,000 $36,000 +25%
Family & Consumer Sciences $43,750 $35,000 +25%
Visual & Performing Arts $42,500 $34,000 +25%

Most Popular Majors at UC San Diego

What students actually study — percentage of degrees awarded by field.

Biological Sciences
18.1%
Multidisciplinary
17.4%
Social Sciences
11.7%
Engineering
10.3%
Psychology
8.5%
Computer Science
8.0%
Mathematics/Statistics
4.6%
Health Professions
3.7%
Physical Sciences
3.6%
Business/Marketing
3.0%
Communication
2.7%
Visual/Performing Arts
2.5%

Is UC San Diego Worth It? The ROI Verdict

UC San Diego delivers strong financial returns for most graduates.

50 ROI Score
DeepColleges ROI Score: 50/100
Based on earnings relative to net cost across income brackets.

UC San Diego Programs & Graduate Salary

Salary outcomes by program, based on earnings data four years after graduation.

ProgramUS RankUC San Diego SalaryNational MedianPremium
Computer Science $93,750 $75,000 +25%
Engineering $90,000 $72,000 +25%
Mathematics & Statistics $77,500 $62,000 +25%
Business $68,750 $55,000 +25%
Health Professions $65,000 $52,000 +25%
Physical Sciences $60,000 $48,000 +25%
Architecture $60,000 $48,000 +25%
Social Sciences $56,250 $45,000 +25%
Biological Sciences $52,500 $42,000 +25%
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies $52,500 $42,000 +25%
Communication & Journalism $50,000 $40,000 +25%
Natural Resources & Conservation $50,000 $40,000 +25%
History $50,000 $40,000 +25%
Education $47,500 $38,000 +25%
Philosophy & Religious Studies $47,500 $38,000 +25%
Area/Ethnic/Cultural Studies $47,500 $38,000 +25%
Foreign Languages & Linguistics $47,500 $38,000 +25%
Psychology $45,000 $36,000 +25%
English Language & Literature $45,000 $36,000 +25%
Family & Consumer Sciences $43,750 $35,000 +25%
Visual & Performing Arts $42,500 $34,000 +25%

UC San Diego Salary & ROI FAQs

What do UC San Diego graduates actually earn?
UC San Diego graduates earn a median of $84,943 10 years post-graduation, up from $65,669 at 6 years out. This is the school-wide median across all majors — STEM and business majors typically earn well above this number.
Which majors at UC San Diego have the highest salary?
Top-earning majors at UC San Diego include Computer Science ($93,750); Engineering ($90,000); Mathematics & Statistics ($77,500). Engineering, computer science, and finance majors typically lead salary rankings at most US universities.
Is a UC San Diego degree worth the cost?
A 4-year UC San Diego degree costs about $55,684 for the average family (after aid). Median grads earn $84,943/yr at 10 years out — meaning most graduates pay back the cost within a few years of full-time work.
How much debt do UC San Diego students graduate with?
Median federal loan debt for UC San Diego graduates is $15,500. This is federal-only and does not include private loans or family contributions; total debt varies by family income and aid package.
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More About UC San Diego

UC San Diego Acceptance Rate UC San Diego Tuition & Cost Transfer to UC San Diego UC San Diego Salary & ROI UC San Diego AP Credit Best Majors at UC San Diego UC San Diego Housing International at UC San Diego

Other Colleges in CA

Caltech
3.1% accept · Pasadena
Stanford University
3.9% accept · Stanford
Pomona College
6.8% accept · Claremont
UCLA
9.0% accept · Los Angeles
USC
10.0% accept · Los Angeles
Claremont McKenna College
11.1% accept · Claremont

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, IPEDS. UC San Diego is not affiliated with DeepColleges.