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Which UC School Offers Better "Financial Prospects" for International Students?
Official Data Proves UCB is Truly Strong, and UCLA is Quite Weak...
Which school in the UC system is more beneficial for international students' "financial prospects"? Instead of relying on feelings, it's better to look at the data. As an institution very willing to share its statistics, the UC system has exposed all the post-graduation income data of its international students!
Financial Prospects for International Students: University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
Median salary 2 years after graduation: $98,610
Median salary 5 years after graduation: $140,679
Median salary 10 years after graduation: $167,133
If you strictly look at the income performance of its graduates, Berkeley is practically the ceiling of the entire University of California system and even all public universities in the United States. Berkeley's dazzling salary performance stems first and foremost from its extremely high academic strength and employer recognition. The school is located on the east coast of the San Francisco Bay Area, only a 40 to 50-minute drive from Silicon Valley. It is surrounded by the world's most influential tech companies, such as Google, Apple, Meta, NVIDIA, OpenAI, Salesforce, and Adobe.
Many companies regularly hold recruitment presentations, Hackathons, research collaborations, and campus recruiting at Berkeley. Therefore, students can access a large number of internship opportunities starting from their freshman year, rather than waiting until graduation to begin job hunting.
The highest income comes from the Computer Science major, with a median salary of $175,179 two years after graduation, far leading other majors. Berkeley's EECS (Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences) has consistently been considered one of the top computer programs globally. The coursework is difficult, but the students cultivated possess solid capabilities in algorithms, systems, artificial intelligence, databases, and software engineering, making them highly sought after by Silicon Valley companies.
Ranked second is the Engineering major, with a median salary of $120,172 two years after graduation. Berkeley's College of Engineering covers multiple directions such as electrical, mechanical, civil, bioengineering, and industrial engineering, among which electronic, electrical, and computer engineering are especially popular with companies. The school boasts numerous cooperative projects with national laboratories. Students can participate in cutting-edge scientific research such as robotics, chip design, new energy, and autonomous driving. Many undergraduates can also join professors' labs and complete research projects alongside doctoral students. These experiences are highly competitive when job hunting.
Business graduates have a median salary of $107,875 two years after graduation. Although Berkeley's undergraduate business school is not particularly large in scale, the Haas School of Business has always enjoyed a stellar reputation. The curriculum emphasizes innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership. In addition to studying finance, marketing, and strategic management, students get ample exposure to entrepreneurial projects. The area around Berkeley has the most active entrepreneurial ecosystem in the world, and the school has incubated countless tech companies. As a result, many business students enter consulting, investment banking, venture capital, or business analysis roles at tech companies upon graduation.
Financial Prospects for International Students: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Median salary 2 years after graduation: $70,828
Median salary 5 years after graduation: $100,232
Median salary 10 years after graduation: $116,078
Compared to some schools renowned for STEM, UCLA's biggest feature is its highly comprehensive subject coverage. Whether it is technology, business, medicine, media, or arts and entertainment, it has incredibly strong resources, leading to more diverse career paths for its graduates.
Looking at undergraduate major incomes, Computer Science is undoubtedly the most "financially promising" major, with a median salary up to $166,034 two years after graduation. The Computer Science program at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering has consistently ranked among the top in the US. Courses cover trending areas like AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, computer vision, databases, and software engineering. Since the school is close to both the Los Angeles tech industry cluster and Silicon Valley, a large number of tech companies come to campus to recruit, including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Snap, TikTok, and SpaceX. During their undergraduate studies, students have the chance to participate in professors' labs, innovative projects, and corporate R&D. Many already secure two or three high-quality internships before graduation, enabling a smooth transition into the high-paying tech industry.
The Engineering major's median salary two years after graduation reached $96,652, which is equally impressive. The UCLA School of Engineering has strong research capabilities in aerospace, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. The school maintains long-term cooperation with large enterprises such as the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Boeing, and Northrop Grumman. Students can not only engage in real-world engineering projects but also participate in Undergraduate Research. These experiences become significant advantages during job searches.
The median salary of Business graduates two years after graduation reached $81,768. Although UCLA does not have a traditional undergraduate business school program, the extensive courses and resources provided by Economics, Business Economics, and the Anderson School of Management allow students to access fields like finance, consulting, and market analysis. Los Angeles itself is a major financial, entertainment, and entrepreneurial hub in the US, so many students enter consulting firms, investment banks, the Big Four accounting firms, or business analysis roles at large internet companies.
Financial Prospects for International Students: University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
Median salary 2 years after graduation: $72,481
Median salary 5 years after graduation: $108,139
Median salary 10 years after graduation: $116,467
Although UC San Diego was established relatively late, it has grown into one of the most influential research universities in the US, and it is also a UC campus where the application enthusiasm of Chinese students has continued to surge in recent years. The school's biggest advantage lies in its research strength. It houses top-tier engineering, computer science, and life sciences research platforms in the US, and collaborates closely with internationally renowned scientific institutions such as the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the San Diego Supercomputer Center. The school's research funding has long ranked among the top US universities, providing undergraduates with ample opportunities to participate in research.
The Computer Science major's median salary two years after graduation reached $142,410, making it the highest-earning undergraduate major at the school. The Jacobs School of Engineering enjoys a high reputation in fields such as AI, high-performance computing, network systems, and chip design. Because San Diego is home to Qualcomm, Apple, Google, Amazon, NVIDIA, and numerous biotech companies, students can secure abundant internship and employment opportunities. Many companies directly participate in curriculum design and research cooperation, equipping students with robust engineering practice capabilities upon graduation.
The Engineering major's median salary two years after graduation reached $93,954. Electrical engineering, computer engineering, and bioengineering are particularly popular with companies. UCSD heavily emphasizes project-based learning. Many courses require students to form teams to complete real engineering projects, meaning graduates generally possess strong practical skills.
Financial Prospects for International Students: University of California, Davis (UC Davis)
Median salary 2 years after graduation: $61,467
Median salary 5 years after graduation: $82,665
Median salary 10 years after graduation: $102,918
UC Davis has always been world-renowned for agriculture, life sciences, veterinary medicine, and environmental science, but its engineering, computer, and business-related majors have also seen accelerated growth in recent years. The school boasts one of the largest agricultural research systems in the US and is a vital base for food science, biotechnology, and sustainable development research. Thanks to the massive campus area and rich experimental resources, it is relatively easy for undergraduates to secure research opportunities and build connections with professors.
The Computer Science major's median salary two years after graduation reached $137,445, making it the school's highest-earning major. In recent years, an increasing number of tech companies have started focusing on UC Davis graduates, especially in software development, data engineering, and artificial intelligence. The school continues to strengthen ties with Silicon Valley companies to provide students with robust internship and employment opportunities.
The Engineering major's median salary two years after graduation reached $86,109, covering electrical, mechanical, civil, and biomedical disciplines. The curriculum emphasizes the integration of practice and scientific research. Many students participate in new energy, robotics, and environmental engineering projects. Compared to the hyper-competitive popular UCs, students here have an easier time securing lab opportunities, professor recommendation letters, and research experience.
Financial Prospects for International Students: University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine)
Median salary 2 years after graduation: $60,322
Median salary 5 years after graduation: $70,564
Median salary 10 years after graduation: $93,328
UC Irvine has developed incredibly fast in recent years, becoming one of the most popular emerging research universities in the US. Located in Irvine, Southern California—a city consistently rated as one of the safest in the US for many years—it also hosts a large concentration of tech, biopharmaceutical, and financial companies, providing a stellar employment environment for students.
The Computer Science major's median salary two years after graduation reached $96,432, making it the highest-earning undergraduate major. In recent years, the school has continuously bolstered its AI, software engineering, and cybersecurity programs, establishing long-term cooperative relations with companies like Google, Amazon, Blizzard, and Broadcom. Undergraduates can participate in innovation labs, entrepreneurial projects, and corporate cooperative courses to sharpen their practical development skills.
The Engineering major's median salary two years after graduation reached $71,900. The Samueli School of Engineering emphasizes innovative practice. Students not only learn theory but also must complete a large number of team projects, enabling them to quickly adapt to the corporate work environment after graduating.
Financial Prospects for International Students: University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)
Median salary 2 years after graduation: $59,639
Median salary 5 years after graduation: $83,934
Median salary 10 years after graduation: $114,510
UC Santa Barbara is hailed as one of the most beautiful universities in the US. The campus borders the Pacific Ocean, offering a highly pleasant study environment, but you should never underestimate its academic strength just because of its stunning ocean views. In fact, UCSB has always maintained world-leading standards in fields like physics, materials science, computer science, and electrical engineering, and has produced several Nobel Laureates.
The Computer Science major's median salary two years after graduation reached $83,934, making it the highest-earning major at the school. Although the figure is lower than schools like Berkeley and UCLA, UCSB's computer major courses are rigorous, and a large number of graduates enter tech giants like Google, Apple, and Microsoft. The school places a high priority on system software, networking, chip design, and artificial intelligence, maintaining close ties with Silicon Valley.
The median salary for Business-related majors two years after graduation reached $63,583, while the Economics major reached $65,251. Because the school lacks a traditional undergraduate business school, many students major in economics, statistics, or mathematics, and minor in business courses, subsequently stepping into financial analysis, consulting, and business operations roles after graduation.
Final Thoughts
It's not hard to see that regardless of a school's flagship programs, the highest-income majors are essentially always those select few fields. Therefore, schools with a strong advantage in those specific majors will naturally boast better overall graduate salary data. However, at the end of the day, all of them are excellent institutions, and there are no "weak" choices here!
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