Engineering at University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Bachelor's Degree · about 27 graduates a year
University of California-San Diego graduates in engineering earn 6% less than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 21% of one year’s pay at that point.
How University of California-San Diego Compares for Engineering
All 19 colleges reporting engineering earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | $115,206 | $104,830 | #3 | $49,741 |
| 2 | Northeastern University Boston, MA | $112,019 | $98,644 | #6 | $75,253 |
| 3 | Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA | $105,080 | $121,638 | #1 | — |
| 4 | Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buzzards Bay, MA | $104,007 | $91,589 | #12 | $77,421 |
| 5 | California State University-Chico Chico, CA | $103,272 | $93,971 | #10 | $74,204 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA | $102,134 | $103,871 | #4 | $73,153 |
| 7 | Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJ | $99,691 | $87,497 | #13 | — |
| 8 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH | $97,144 | $103,667 | #5 | $78,734 |
| 9 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR | $94,278 | $94,833 | #8 | $71,549 |
| 10 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, OR | $94,278 | $94,833 | #9 | $71,549 |
| … | |||||
| 12 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS | $91,124 | $110,562 | #2 | $68,045 |
| 13 | Colorado State University Pueblo Pueblo, CO | $90,627 | $84,754 | #14 | $76,059 |
| 14 | Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN | $89,261 | $95,761 | #7 | $69,685 |
| 15 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | $88,159 | $80,219 | #18 | $56,522 |
| 16 | Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN | $87,331 | $93,690 | #11 | $74,668 |
| 17 | Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls, OR | $81,872 | $82,354 | #16 | — |
| 18 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | $79,609 | $83,938 | #15 | $67,007 |
Other Engineering Credentials at University of California-San Diego
| Credential | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $142,225 | $158,915 | — |
Other Majors at University of California-San Diego by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do University of California-San Diego engineering graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $56,522 one year after graduating and $88,159 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does University of California-San Diego rank for engineering?
Among 19 colleges reporting earnings for engineering graduates, University of California-San Diego ranks #15 by median pay four years after graduation, and #18 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is engineering at University of California-San Diego worth it?
Its graduates earn 6% less than the national median for engineering ($93,989), and the median federal debt at graduation is $18,954.
← All data for University of California-San Diego · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.