Top Ranked Programs
University of California-Santa Cruz's program mix is anchored in Computer Science, which shapes the institution's overall earnings profile and labor-market positioning. Social Sciences accounts for 14% of graduates, followed by Arts at 9% and Business at 6%. Across 40 programs serving roughly 4,741 students annually, 32 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — a portfolio that balances computing strength with breadth in the social and biological sciences. The highest-earning programs reflect University of California-Santa Cruz's computing concentration. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #36 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 607 graduates earning $123,422. Azimuth ranks Business/Managerial Economics #9 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 287 graduates earning $82,064. Computer Science combines the largest cohort scale with strong pay — 607 graduates earning $123,422 — making it the program that contributes most to University of California-Santa Cruz's aggregate earnings outcomes. For context on [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), see the methodology. The Beyond computing, Psychology, General program graduates 431 students with median earnings of $59,948, and the The Business/Managerial Economics program graduates 287 students earning $82,064. These are fields where four-year earnings may undercount lifetime trajectory, since a meaningful share of graduates continue to graduate or professional school. Computing and engineering programs, by contrast, are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect national labor-market demand — context the [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) explores in detail. ```