Top Ranked Programs
University of California-San Diego's program mix is anchored in Biological Sciences, which accounts for 12% of degree output, followed by Engineering at 11% and other STEM fields at 5%. That biological-sciences concentration reflects the university's research identity — infrastructure like the Sanford Stem Cell Discovery Center, per the university's research page, underscores the depth of lab-science investment on campus. Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences is the largest program by graduates (769 annually), and the breadth of the life-sciences pipeline feeds both direct-to-workforce and graduate-school-dependent career paths. Across 66 programs serving roughly 9,413 students annually, 46 meet Azimuth's [ranking threshold](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The strongest earnings come from quantitative and applied fields. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #20 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $159,487 — the highest four-year figure at the institution. Azimuth ranks Economics #48 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with graduates earning $87,307, and Azimuth ranks International/Globalization Studies #1 nationally with graduates earning $81,174. Among the most popular programs, Azimuth ranks Computer Science #20 nationally with 591 graduates earning $159,487, and Azimuth ranks International/Globalization Studies #1 nationally with 537 graduates earning $81,174. Several of University of California-San Diego's largest programs are grad-school-dependent pathways — notably Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences and Cognitive Science — where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to medical school, doctoral programs, or other advanced study. Computer Science, Economics, and Cognitive Science are high-mobility programs where graduates enter the national labor market directly and four-year earnings reflect workforce outcomes. The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with national wage trends and employer demand. ```