Bachelor's · La Jolla, California

Is Mathematics and Computer Science at University of California-San Diego worth it?

High confidence High confidence: 100+ graduates behind the earnings figures.

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

Pays back fast: graduates typically recover the cost in about 1.2 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $92,864; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $147,389; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $14,500; 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: $107k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in CA; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 1.2 years (likely 1.1–1.4); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: $786k (likely $700k – $879k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: $2.02M (likely $1.78M – $2.31M); 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

Change income, residency or loans Compare Mathematics and Computer Science at other schools

🔭 Getting ready in high school

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

AP classes

AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Chemistry

IB Higher Level

Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL
Physics HL or Chemistry 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

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