Strong graduate outcomes with earnings well above peer institutions. Robust earnings growth over time.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
UC San Diego graduates demonstrate consistent earnings growth from early to mid-career. Median earnings rise from $65,669 at six years to $77,893 at eight years and $84,943 at ten years, representing 29.4% growth between the six-year and ten-year marks.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Strong relative performance — graduates earn notably more than peers at comparable institutions.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $15,500 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
UC San Diego graduates carry median debt of $15,500, well below the peer median of $20,000 and ranking in the 84.0th percentile for manageable debt levels. Debt distribution shows 25th percentile borrowers owing $9,200 while 75th percentile borrowers carry $23,800, indicating controlled borrowing across the student population.
UC San Diego ranks in the 95.1st percentile nationally for return on investment, reflecting the combination of strong long-term earnings and controlled educational costs. Graduates earn $17,210 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationwide, placing the university in the 92.6th percentile for earnings uplift.
Approximately 28.6% of UC San Diego graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating strong preparation for advanced education alongsi...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
UC San Diego's strongest earning programs center on technology and engineering fields. Computer Science leads with $131,731 median earnings and #19 national ranking, while Computer Engineering produces $126,160 outcomes with #6 national ranking.
Electrical Engineering reaches $102,389 and Mechanical Engineering achieves $94,289, all reflecting strong demand for technical graduates in Southern California's innovation economy. Mathematics and Computer Science, an interdisciplinary program, delivers $89,651 earnings while ranking #4 nationally.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings outcomes show meaningful variation reflecting UC San Diego's diverse academic portfolio. The gap between 25th percentile earnings of $57,071 and 75th percentile earnings of $127,245 creates a 2.2:1 ratio, indicating substantial upside potential for graduates in high-earning fields.
