CAMPUS · SANTA CRUZ, CA · PUBLIC
UC Santa Cruz
University of California-Santa Cruz
62.5%
ACCEPT
UC Santa Cruz Graduate Earnings Overview
$49,716
Median Salary (6yr)
$68,396
Median Salary (10yr)
$16,666
Median Debt
4.1x
Earnings / Debt
UC Santa Cruz graduates earn a median of $68,396 ten years after enrollment against median debt of $16,666. Actual outcomes depend heavily on your chosen major.
Salary by Major at UC Santa Cruz
Earnings data by program, measured four years after graduation.
| Program | US Rank | UC Santa Cruz Salary | National Median | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | — | $78,750 | $75,000 | +5% |
| Engineering | — | $75,600 | $72,000 | +5% |
| Mathematics & Statistics | — | $65,100 | $62,000 | +5% |
| Business | — | $57,750 | $55,000 | +5% |
| Physical Sciences | — | $50,400 | $48,000 | +5% |
| Social Sciences | — | $47,250 | $45,000 | +5% |
| Legal Professions | — | $47,250 | $45,000 | +5% |
| Biological Sciences | — | $44,100 | $42,000 | +5% |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | — | $44,100 | $42,000 | +5% |
| Agriculture & Natural Resources | — | $44,100 | $42,000 | +5% |
| Natural Resources & Conservation | — | $42,000 | $40,000 | +5% |
| History | — | $42,000 | $40,000 | +5% |
| Foreign Languages & Linguistics | — | $39,900 | $38,000 | +5% |
| Area/Ethnic/Cultural Studies | — | $39,900 | $38,000 | +5% |
| Education | — | $39,900 | $38,000 | +5% |
| Philosophy & Religious Studies | — | $39,900 | $38,000 | +5% |
| Public Administration & Social Services | — | $39,900 | $38,000 | +5% |
| Psychology | — | $37,800 | $36,000 | +5% |
| Visual & Performing Arts | — | $35,700 | $34,000 | +5% |
Most Popular Majors at UC Santa Cruz
What students actually study — percentage of degrees awarded by field.
Computer Science
15.4%
Biological Sciences
14.7%
Social Sciences
12.7%
Psychology
10.3%
Visual/Performing Arts
9.5%
Business/Marketing
5.8%
Physical Sciences
5.0%
Foreign Languages
4.0%
Natural Resources
3.4%
Engineering
3.3%
Legal Studies
2.6%
Multidisciplinary
2.6%
Ethnic/Cultural Studies
2.5%
Mathematics/Statistics
2.4%
History
2.1%
Is UC Santa Cruz Worth It? The ROI Verdict
UC Santa Cruz delivers strong financial returns for most graduates.
DeepColleges ROI Score: 50/100
Based on earnings relative to net cost across income brackets.
UC Santa Cruz Programs & Graduate Salary
Salary outcomes by program, based on earnings data four years after graduation.
| Program | US Rank | UC Santa Cruz Salary | National Median | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | — | $78,750 | $75,000 | +5% |
| Engineering | — | $75,600 | $72,000 | +5% |
| Mathematics & Statistics | — | $65,100 | $62,000 | +5% |
| Business | — | $57,750 | $55,000 | +5% |
| Physical Sciences | — | $50,400 | $48,000 | +5% |
| Social Sciences | — | $47,250 | $45,000 | +5% |
| Legal Professions | — | $47,250 | $45,000 | +5% |
| Biological Sciences | — | $44,100 | $42,000 | +5% |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | — | $44,100 | $42,000 | +5% |
| Agriculture & Natural Resources | — | $44,100 | $42,000 | +5% |
| Natural Resources & Conservation | — | $42,000 | $40,000 | +5% |
| History | — | $42,000 | $40,000 | +5% |
| Foreign Languages & Linguistics | — | $39,900 | $38,000 | +5% |
| Area/Ethnic/Cultural Studies | — | $39,900 | $38,000 | +5% |
| Education | — | $39,900 | $38,000 | +5% |
| Philosophy & Religious Studies | — | $39,900 | $38,000 | +5% |
| Public Administration & Social Services | — | $39,900 | $38,000 | +5% |
| Psychology | — | $37,800 | $36,000 | +5% |
| Visual & Performing Arts | — | $35,700 | $34,000 | +5% |
UC Santa Cruz Salary & ROI FAQs
More About UC Santa Cruz
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Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, IPEDS. UC Santa Cruz is not affiliated with DeepColleges.