People who say college isn’t worth it haven’t seen this data

You might be wondering whether getting a college degree is still worth it. UC has just released new data, and the numbers are clear.

The bottom line: A UC degree pays off with higher earnings that grow over time, and UC graduates enter the workforce with greater financial flexibility due to no or low debt.

By the numbers

• UC bachelor's degree-holders have higher earnings when compared to the median for bachelor's degree-holders in California.
• 63% of UC's California undergrads finish their degrees with ZERO student loans.
• In-state students who do take loans average $17,300 in debt at graduation - that's $11,400 less than 10 years ago, and $10,000 less than the national average for public universities.
• The majority of UC's low-income undergrads earn more than their parents within 3 years of graduation.

A UC degree pays off with higher earnings.

Right out of the gate, UC bachelor's degree-holders in California earn more than those who only complete high school. They also out-earn the median earnings for bachelor's degree-holders in the state. UC alumni continue to out-earn those groups year over year, by bigger and bigger margins.

Sources: UC undergraduate alumni data for calendar year 2024 from California Employment Development Department; California median income data from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates Public Use Microdata Sample 2024

Like many investments, the biggest gains for UC alumni come with time. Over the first 20 years of their careers, UC undergrad alumni average $2.1 million in cumulative earnings. That's $1.23 million more than those with only a high school degree, and $439,000 more than bachelor's degree-holders in California overall.

The majority of UC undergrads finish their degrees with ZERO debt.

63% of California resident students graduate with no student loans at all.

UC in-state undergraduates who do take student loans owe an average of $17,300 at graduation. That's $10,000 less debt than their peers at other public universities nationwide.

UC in-state graduates who do need to take out student loans graduate with significantly less debt than their peers at other schools. Source for public and private school data: CollegeBoard "Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2024."

What's more, the average UC student debt at graduation has gone down by $11,400, or 39%, over the last decade.

The average debt at graduation for UC bachelor's degree recipients with student loans has declined 39% since 2013 thanks to factors like UC's strong financial aid program.

These numbers are a fundamental part of what makes a UC degree so valuable. UC grads enter the job market with less debt and greater financial flexibility, allowing them to pursue a wider range of career opportunities, continue their education, or navigate a challenging labor market without the same financial pressures as their peers.

UC's low-income students earn more than their parents.

The majority of UC's low-income undergraduates out-earn their parents within 3 years of graduation. That's 2 years faster than the last time this data was collected in 2021.

Their incomes continue to rise over time, with virtually all low-income students doing better than their parents financially in the long run.

This generational shift in economic mobility applies to the more than one-third of UC's 237,616 undergraduate students who qualify for federal Pell Grants, and it holds true across all disciplines and majors.

Find all the latest data here.