Head-to-head comparison
University of California-San Diego vs University of California-Berkeley: which has better ROI?
Option A La Jolla, CA
University of California-San Diego
- Net price / year
- $12,470
- Earnings, 10 years
- $84,943
- Payback
- 1.4 yrs
Option B Berkeley, CA
University of California-Berkeley
- Net price / year
- $13,481
- Earnings, 10 years
- $92,446
- Payback
- 1.2 yrs
University of California-Berkeley has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $53,924 in 1.2 years versus 1.4 years at University of California-San Diego, on median earnings of $92,446 vs $84,943 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of California-San Diego | University of California-Berkeley |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,470 | $13,481 |
| Total net cost | $49,880 | $53,924 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $84,943 | $92,446 |
| Median debt | $15,500 | $13,000 |
| Payback | 1.4 yrs | 1.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $681,780 | $827,796 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of California-San Diego or University of California-Berkeley?
University of California-San Diego, at $12,470 a year after aid versus $13,481 — a gap of $1,011 a year, or $4,044 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-San Diego or University of California-Berkeley graduates earn more?
University of California-Berkeley graduates report a median $92,446 ten years after entry, $7,503 more than the $84,943 at University of California-San Diego. 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-San Diego or University of California-Berkeley?
University of California-Berkeley: its completers carry a median $13,000 in federal loans versus $15,500 at University of California-San Diego, a difference of $2,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
93% of students finish at University of California-Berkeley, against 86% at University of California-San Diego. 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.