Computer Engineering at University of California-Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz's Computer Engineering program rewards patience with remarkable earnings growth. While the $80,000 starting salary sits just above the national median, graduates see their earnings jump 48% to $118,000 by year four—outpacing both the national and state medians by substantial margins. This ranks in the 60th percentile among California's 31 computer engineering programs, a respectable position given the state's concentration of top tech talent.

The debt picture is reasonable at $23,392, translating to a manageable 0.29 ratio against first-year earnings. While slightly above California's typical debt load for this program, it's below the national median and represents roughly three months of year-four salary. The real value emerges in that second through fourth year—UC Santa Cruz graduates see earnings acceleration that suggests strong career momentum, likely reflecting the campus's proximity to Silicon Valley tech employers who increasingly recruit from the school.

The gap between UC Santa Cruz and top California programs like Cal Poly ($112K) or UC Davis ($96K) is notable, but so is the moderate admission rate of 63% compared to more selective alternatives. For families weighing access against outcomes, this program delivers solid engineering credentials at a UC price point, with the earnings trajectory pointing to long-term competitiveness in the tech sector. The investment makes sense if your student can leverage the location and maintain the upward momentum these numbers suggest.