University of California-Santa Cruz — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of California-Santa Cruz charges a net price of $17,890/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $71,560. Graduates earn a median $68,396 ten years after entry, $20,036/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3.6 years — a 20-year net return of $329,160, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $17,890/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $71,560 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $68,396 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $20,036/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $16,666 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 3.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $329,160 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 4 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.