Bachelor's · La Jolla, California

Is History at University of California-San Diego worth it?

Medium confidence Medium confidence: 40–99 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back in time: graduates typically recover the cost in about 4.6 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $33,832; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $66,322; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $14,440; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $63k (likely $63k – $67k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $26k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in CA; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 4.6 years (likely 3.6–6.0); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: −$1k (likely −$77k – $77k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: $318k (likely $159k – $511k); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 86%; Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Borrowers making progress / in default, 2 years in: not reported / ≤ 20%; NSLDS AY2016-17, AY2017-18 pooled cohorts measured in 2018-19, 2019-20

Change income, residency or loans Compare History at other schools

⚖️ Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward law, government & society majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

AP U.S. Government and Politics
AP U.S. History
AP English Language and Composition
AP Comparative Government and Politics

IB Higher Level

History HL
Global Politics HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at University of California-San Diego

Computer Science (Master's)$231,397
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's)$201,287
Computer Engineering (Master's)$173,180
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Master's)$169,987
Physics (Doctoral)$166,997
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral)$165,543
Computer Science (Bachelor's)$159,487
Engineering, Other (Master's)$158,915
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's)$149,271
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)$149,139
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Doctoral)$148,833
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's)$145,693

History at other schools in California

University of Southern California$79,940
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$66,518
California State University-East Bay$65,217
University of California-Berkeley$64,755
University of California-Santa Cruz$60,519
National University$59,645
University of California-Los Angeles$59,555
University of California-Santa Barbara$59,342
San Francisco State University$58,717
San Diego State University$57,861