Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of California-Los Angeles #22 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $77,677 four years after enrollment, placing University of California-Los Angeles in the 85.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Economics #41 nationally for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — a program-level anchor that reflects the university's broader strength in high-return fields. University of California-Los Angeles earn about $9,256 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 22.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — a signal that graduates consistently outpace what similar students earn at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks University of California-Los Angeles #22 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the university's ability to convert broad access into durable long-run earnings gains across a wide range of student backgrounds.
Azimuth ranks University of California-Los Angeles #22 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Los Angeles, CA, University of California-Los Angeles enrolls roughly 33,475 undergraduates. Retention is 97.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 92.6%, figures that place the university among the strongest nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where University of California-Los Angeles performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of California-Los Angeles #516 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 65.2 percentile. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $77,677, and graduates earn about $9,256 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of California-Los Angeles in the 22.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant degree concentration is in Social Sciences, but strong outcomes extend across a broad program portfolio that includes high-return fields in business, engineering, and the health sciences. The composite is shaped by a more selective admissions posture — University of California-Los Angeles admits about 9.0% of applicants, which by design limits the size of each entering class and constrains the share of low-income students the institution enrolls (28.2% Pell, 38.1% first-generation). Access sits in the 97.4 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, while affordability sits in the 91.7 percentile and mobility in the 98.6 percentile for their respective measures among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students who gain admission, the long-run financial outcomes remain among the strongest in the country.
University of Hawaii–West Oahu's published cost of attendance is $38,614. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $5,579, middle-income families pay around $9,811, and higher-income families pay approximately $29,682. Azimuth ranks University of California-Los Angeles #119 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. As a public institution in Hawaii, University of Hawaii–West Oahu benefits from state appropriations that help keep tuition lower than many private alternatives. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and work-study is available as part of the aid package for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $14,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $26,176, and private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $77,677, median federal debt of $14,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $158 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of California-Los Angeles is a strong fit for students drawn to the social sciences, humanities, and research-oriented fields who want a large public research university experience in Los Angeles, CA, with access to one of the country's most dynamic labor markets. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $77,677, placing University of California-Los Angeles in the 85.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — and earn about $9,256 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of California-Los Angeles in the 22.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. 28.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 38.1% are first-generation college students — a meaningful access footprint for a research university of this profile. University of California-Los Angeles sits in the 98.2 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon — suggesting that Pell-eligible students who enroll and complete tend to see strong long-run outcomes. Fit depends on two realistic filters: University of California-Los Angeles admits about 9.0% of applicants, making it among the more selective public universities in the country, and its program mix centers on Social Sciences and related analytical fields rather than applied-professional tracks. Students whose academic interests align with those areas and who can navigate a competitive application process will find the earnings trajectory and access outcomes among the strongest available at a public institution.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of California-Los Angeles hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Hawaii–West Oahu's published cost of attendance is $38,614. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $5,579, middle-income families pay around $9,811, and higher-income families pay approximately $29,682.
Azimuth ranks University of California-Los Angeles #119 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
As a public institution in Hawaii, University of Hawaii–West Oahu benefits from state appropriations that help keep tuition lower than many private alternatives. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and work-study is available as part of the aid package for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $14,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $26,176, and private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $77,677, median federal debt of $14,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $158 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of California-Los Angeles earn median 4-year earnings of $77,677, placing the institution in the 85.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,256 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of California-Los Angeles in the 22.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of California-Los Angeles #516 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern centers on business and professional fields.
Economics is the largest program with 861 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $95,440, performing at 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. The Sociology program graduates 696 students with median earnings of $64,692, and the The Political Science program graduates 675 students earning $74,202.
These programs reflect University of California-Los Angeles's concentration in Social Sciences, which anchors the institution's economic profile and aligns with strong regional employer demand in Hawaii's professional services and hospitality sectors.
Computer Engineering
96 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
142 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
54 graduates
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
64 graduates
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
63 graduates
University of California-Los Angeles anchors its program portfolio in business and applied professional fields, reflecting its identity as a public regional university serving Hawaii's workforce. Economics is the largest program with 861 graduates annually, followed by Sociology, Political Science, Psychology, General, and Biology, General.
The institution's program mix concentrates in Social Sciences at 26%, with meaningful enrollment in Engineering at 7% and Arts at 4%, positioning the university as a practical, career-focused institution aligned with Hawaii's regional labor market. Among 46 ranked programs, Applied Mathematics leads earnings outcomes, with graduates earning median earnings of $103,887 four years after enrollment.
Economics graduates earn $95,440, and Political Science graduates earn $74,202. These programs reflect the institution's strength in applied business and professional fields where employers in Hawaii and the broader Pacific region actively recruit.
Economics, the largest program by enrollment, generates median earnings of $95,440, demonstrating that scale and earnings strength align at this institution. The program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways in business, accounting, and applied management fields where graduates enter the labor market immediately and earnings reflect regional economic conditions.
Unlike institutions with substantial graduate-school-dependent programs, University of California-Los Angeles's dominant fields are designed for early-career employment and advancement. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these applied-professional fields align with Hawaii's evolving labor-market demand and the broader Pacific economy.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of California-Irvine Higher acceptance rate (16.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 45 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 26% | $80,735 | Compare |
Scripps College Higher acceptance rate (25.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 42 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 34% | $77,539 | Compare |
Occidental College Higher acceptance rate (31.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 14 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 40% | $75,951 | Compare |
University Of Washington-Seattle Campus Higher acceptance rate (33.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | WA | 43% | $78,466 | Compare |
University Of Maryland-College Park Higher acceptance rate (36.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MD | 45% | $82,860 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rutgers University-New Brunswick Similar quality tier (#24 ranked) | NJ | 58% | $74,479 | #24 | Compare |
The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley Similar quality tier (#22 ranked) | TX | 94% | $49,620 | #22 | Compare |
Texas A&M University-College Station Similar quality tier (#21 ranked) | TX | 57% | $72,097 | #21 | Compare |
San Jose State University Similar quality tier in West (#20 ranked) | CA | 85% | $78,988 | #20 | Compare |
University Of Houston Similar quality tier (#19 ranked) | TX | 74% | $62,377 | #19 | Compare |
