Head-to-head comparison
University of California-Berkeley vs California State University-Los Angeles: which has better ROI?
Option A Berkeley, CA
University of California-Berkeley
- Net price / year
- $13,481
- Earnings, 10 years
- $92,446
- Payback
- 1.2 yrs
Option B Los Angeles, CA
California State University-Los Angeles
- Net price / year
- $3,967
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,211
- Payback
- 1.5 yrs
University of California-Berkeley has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $53,924 in 1.2 years versus 1.5 years at California State University-Los Angeles, on median earnings of $92,446 vs $59,211 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of California-Berkeley | California State University-Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,481 | $3,967 |
| Total net cost | $53,924 | $15,868 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $92,446 | $59,211 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $13,000 |
| Payback | 1.2 yrs | 1.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $827,796 | $201,152 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of California-Berkeley or California State University-Los Angeles?
California State University-Los Angeles, at $3,967 a year after aid versus $13,481 — a gap of $9,514 a year, or $38,056 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of California-Berkeley or California State University-Los Angeles graduates earn more?
University of California-Berkeley graduates report a median $92,446 ten years after entry, $33,235 more than the $59,211 at California State University-Los Angeles. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, University of California-Berkeley or California State University-Los Angeles?
Completers at both borrow a median $13,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
93% of students finish at University of California-Berkeley, against 53% at California State University-Los Angeles. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.