10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$59,940at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · 39 field-and-degree records
Earnings reported for 37 · Federal debt reported for 35
Based onObserved earnings + college priceEstimate10-year payoff
Estimated 10-year payoff
Negative payoff
−$59,940 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
13.1 yrsTime to earn back the modeled cost
−24%Estimated return after 10 years
$64,162Observed earnings · year 5
$2,905Highest annual price before payoff reaches $0
The price benchmark would need to fall by $14,985 per year to reach it.
Start with your question
What do you want to understand?
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
PUBLISHED STUDENT BUDGET · 2024–25
What makes up the annual price?
Sticker-price components reported to IPEDS. Grants and scholarships are not subtracted here.
Living off campus: $19,560 housing and food allowance plus $7,838 in other expenses.
Do not confuse this with net price. Net price subtracts average grants and scholarships. DegreeVerdict continues to use the separately labeled average net price in its standard college ROI scenario.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$11,620
$8,000Annual price−$20,380
$16,000Annual price−$52,380
$18,000Current college-wide context−$60,380
$24,000Annual price−$84,380
$32,000Annual price−$116,380
$40,000Annual price−$148,380
HOW STUDENTS ATTEND · 2023-24
Online study is a meaningful part of the student experience.
IPEDS enrollment counts show course delivery across the whole institution. They do not indicate whether a specific degree can be completed online.
Institution-level attendance context from IPEDS. Program delivery is reported separately on degree pages and in the program directory. These figures do not enter ROI.
College identity and local contextAccreditation, institution type, dual enrollment and state prices
COLLEGE AT A GLANCE
Institution details
Current federal characteristics describing the college, not the outcomes of a specific program.
- Accreditor
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
- Main award level
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Campus setting
- City
- Admissions
- Selective admission
- Delivery
- Campus or mixed delivery
- Federal designation
- Land-grant institution
STATE PRICE CONTEXT · 2024
Prices in California run 11% above the U.S. level.
BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states. A value of 100 equals the national average.
What it costs and what graduates earn
$17,890Average net price / year
$41,179Cost of attendance
$16,666Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$177/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$64,162Median earnings · year 5 after completion
75.1%Completion rate
65.8%Admission rate
17,940Student size
Debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. It does not include Parent PLUS or private loans. We show admissions scores only when a valid federal value is available.
What the numbers say about University of California, Santa Cruz
What does University of California, Santa Cruz cost?
University of California, Santa Cruz reports an average annual net price of $17,890 after grants and scholarships. This is an institution-wide average, not an individual aid offer.
What do University of California, Santa Cruz graduates earn?
The observed median earnings figure is $64,162 5 years after completion. It describes a federal cohort, not a guaranteed starting salary.
How much federal debt do University of California, Santa Cruz graduates have?
Completer borrowers report median cumulative federal student debt of $16,666. Parent PLUS and private loans are not included.
Is every degree at University of California, Santa Cruz worth the same?
No. The current release contains 39 field-and-degree records for University of California, Santa Cruz; 37 report year-4 earnings and 35 report federal debt. Outcomes can differ substantially by field and degree level.
DEBT AFTER COLLEGE
Are borrowers making progress?
Repayment progress, default and debt at exit describe different federal borrower cohorts. They are shown separately and do not change the ROI estimate.
Source: College Scorecard. Repayment progress is the share of borrowers who reduced principal by at least $1 at the stated measurement point. Debt covers federal student loans; Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded. Cohorts and reporting periods differ across measures.
Who studied here during the year
21,424Students enrolled at any point
19,317Undergraduate students
2,107Graduate students
Unduplicated students enrolled at any point from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. This full-year measure is different from a fall headcount and does not enter ROI.
More student and earnings detailPrice by family income, retention, equity and common industries
WHO PAYS, WHO FINISHES, WHO EARNS
Outcomes are not the same for every family.
These federal cohorts add context that a single college average can hide. Missing figures remain unreported rather than estimated.
Complete within 150% of the expected time
81% received a Pell Grant within eight yearsMedian Parent PLUS debt
1,546 parent borrowers in the reported cohortMedian federal student debt
72% making progress in repayment after three yearsStudent family incomeMedian earnings after 10 yearsObserved federal cohorts
Lower income$67,816Earnings are not a guarantee
Middle income$67,350Earnings are not a guarantee
Higher income$70,251Earnings are not a guarantee
Three-year repayment progress
Lower income70%
Middle income75%
Higher income81%
Undergraduate student composition
White31%
Black2%
Hispanic29%
Asian24%
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Parent PLUS debt belongs to parents; student-debt measures exclude Parent PLUS and private loans. Cohort definitions differ by measure.
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
WHAT STANDS OUT
A faster read on this college
These summaries use every reportable field-and-credential record at this institution. They do not fill privacy-suppressed outcomes.
EARNINGS OVER TIME
What graduates earned in later years
$37,107Year 1
$67,085Year 4
$64,162Year 5
Each year can represent a different federal cohort, so the points do not track the same people over time.
Your choice of degree can change the payoff.
Graduate earnings differ by field and credential, even within the same college.
1Computer Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$124,6412Computer Science · Bachelor's Degree$123,4223Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$118,2904Economics · Master's Degree$110,4255Biomedical/Medical Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$98,5676Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management · Bachelor's Degree$94,5897Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology · Bachelor's Degree$88,3058Business/Managerial Economics · Bachelor's Degree$82,064Observed year-4 earnings · compare the same field and credential across colleges
Programs that stand out against the same-degree benchmark
This view rewards performance relative to the same field and credential, not simply majors that pay more everywhere.
1Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyBachelor's Degree · $88,305 reported+35%vs same-degree national median$18,959federal debt2Graphic CommunicationsBachelor's Degree · $58,163 reported+34%vs same-degree national median$20,714federal debt3Design and Applied ArtsBachelor's Degree · $66,333 reported+29%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt4HistoryBachelor's Degree · $60,519 reported+19%vs same-degree national median$18,279federal debt5Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree · $59,948 reported+18%vs same-degree national median$18,902federal debt6Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringBachelor's Degree · $118,290 reported+18%vs same-degree national median$17,048federal debt
Comparable colleges in CA
Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive, not a quality ranking.
San Diego, CA
San Diego State University
- Annual net price
- $15,364
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $65,488
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -15%
University of California, Riverside
- Annual net price
- $14,304
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $63,411
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -22%
California State University, Chico
- Annual net price
- $14,480
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $62,509
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -26%
Sonoma State University
- Annual net price
- $12,885
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $65,250
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -13%
Compare fields and degree levels
Showing all 39 field-and-degree records in the current release.
| Major or field | Degree level | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 2024–25 graduates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $124,641 | $23,392 | Not reported |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $123,422 | $16,666 | Not reported |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $118,290 | $17,048 | Not reported |
| Economics | Master's Degree | $110,425 | Not available | Not reported |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $98,567 | $22,500 | Not reported |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | Bachelor's Degree | $94,589 | $20,020 | Not reported |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | Bachelor's Degree | $88,305 | $18,959 | Not reported |
| Business/Managerial Economics | Bachelor's Degree | $82,064 | $16,500 | Not reported |
| Economics | Bachelor's Degree | $76,382 | $18,017 | Not reported |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | Master's Degree | $73,343 | Not available | Not reported |
| Cognitive Science | Bachelor's Degree | $72,125 | $19,500 | Not reported |
| Chemistry | Bachelor's Degree | $71,348 | $15,000 | Not reported |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | Doctoral Degree | $70,373 | Not available | 11 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | Bachelor's Degree | $69,849 | $19,000 | Not reported |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | Bachelor's Degree | $69,027 | $19,500 | Not reported |
| Design and Applied Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $66,333 | Not available | Not reported |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $66,244 | $18,416 | Not reported |
| Political Science and Government | Bachelor's Degree | $65,890 | $16,782 | Not reported |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $65,036 | $20,703 | Not reported |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | Bachelor's Degree | $64,499 | $20,833 | Not reported |
| History | Bachelor's Degree | $60,519 | $18,279 | Not reported |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $59,948 | $18,902 | Not reported |
| Mathematics | Bachelor's Degree | $59,214 | $19,232 | Not reported |
| Graphic Communications | Bachelor's Degree | $58,163 | $20,714 | Not reported |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | Bachelor's Degree | $56,620 | $17,750 | Not reported |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $55,798 | $19,747 | Not reported |
| Sociology | Bachelor's Degree | $55,338 | $16,500 | Not reported |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Bachelor's Degree | $55,240 | $18,500 | Not reported |
| Behavioral Sciences | Bachelor's Degree | $54,606 | $17,500 | Not reported |
| Anthropology | Bachelor's Degree | $52,315 | $17,875 | Not reported |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | Bachelor's Degree | $51,519 | $17,340 | Not reported |
| Philosophy | Bachelor's Degree | $51,398 | $15,832 | Not reported |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | Bachelor's Degree | $49,821 | $18,887 | Not reported |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | Bachelor's Degree | $49,763 | $17,491 | Not reported |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $45,815 | $16,439 | Not reported |
| Fine and Studio Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $40,156 | $19,500 | Not reported |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | Bachelor's Degree | $30,524 | $19,500 | Not reported |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | Bachelor's Degree | Not available | $20,500 | Not reported |
| Physics | Bachelor's Degree | Not available | $16,250 | Not reported |
Graduate counts come from IPEDS and group related majors into the same federal field. Missing earnings or debt values remain labeled as unavailable.
Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.