Key Takeaways
In a BestColleges and National University survey, 75% of California bachelor's graduates considered their degree at least worth its cost, often citing job opportunities and career advancement.
More than three-quarters (76%) of arts, humanities, and design respondents said the value of their degree was good or excellent, despite having the lowest rates of full-time employment and earnings of all the fields surveyed.
Make the most of college by comparing costs after financial aid and choosing programs with internships, research opportunities, and career support that fit your goals.
College was worth the cost for the majority of California graduates in a BestColleges and National University survey, but their experiences reveal important nuances. Although job opportunities and earnings were the biggest drivers behind the perceived value of a college education, graduates also considered skills learned and career preparation, among other factors.
The 2026 California Educational Outcomes Survey asked 1,006 California residents who earned bachelor's degrees between 2016 and 2021 about the payoff of their education, which offers a perspective five to 10 years after graduation.
Most Graduates Say College Was Worth the Cost
When graduates were specifically asked whether their degree was worth its cost, 75% considered their degree worth at least as much as they paid for it. The largest group, 51%, described the cost as "about right," while another 24% said their degree was worth more or much more.
A separate question asked graduates to assess their degree's overall value when weighing income, career opportunities, debt, and California's cost of living. On that broader measure, 65% rated the value of their degree as good or excellent.
Jobs and Earnings Help Explain the Payoff
Most respondents in our survey (93%) were employed, including 77% working full time. Among the 940 respondents who were currently employed, 57% said a bachelor's degree was required, while 39% said employers preferred it or it helped them compete.
Among those who considered their degree at least worth its cost:
29% cited qualifying for a good job as the main reason
29% cited career advancement
17% cited increased earnings, indicating that career opportunities were as important as pay
Together, these findings suggest that many respondents still viewed their degree as necessary for securing work, competing for opportunities, and advancing professionally, even years after graduation.
Earnings are also an important consideration for Californians. About four in 10 respondents who disclosed income (41%) reported at least $100,000 in annual personal income before taxes. Before starting their programs, just 12% reported earning the same. Nationally, workers with bachelor's degrees also tend to earn more than those with only a high school diploma. In 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported median weekly earnings of $1,578 for bachelor's graduates, compared with $966 for high school graduates.
Costs and Debt Shape How Graduates View College's Payoff
Although financial aid helped most respondents pay for college, many still needed to take out loans. In our survey, 82% received aid, including scholarships, grants, or employer assistance, and 49% borrowed for their bachelor's degree.
By the time of the survey, half of the borrowers had already repaid their loans in full, while the other half still owed money. Respondents graduated five to 10 years earlier, so education expenses remained part of some graduates' financial obligations well beyond graduation.
But financial concerns extended beyond student loans. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (63%) worried at least sometimes about affording basic expenses during the previous year. Meanwhile, 28% could cover necessities but had little left after debt payments and other obligations.
Among respondents who considered their degree only somewhat worth the cost or not worth it, 31% said their income wasn't high enough to justify the expense. Another 22% said college costs too much, and 18% cited excessive student debt.
These findings suggest that, when deciding whether college felt worthwhile, graduates considered how the cost of education and everyday expenses affected their ability to move ahead financially.
Skills and Career Prep Make College Worth It
Graduates valued the skills they acquired and what their education equipped them to do, not just the career and earnings outcomes. Among respondents who considered their degree at least worth its cost, 21% named useful skills as the main reason.
Separately, 70% of all respondents said their bachelor's studies prepared them well or very well for their careers.
Responses from arts, humanities, and design graduates illustrate why employment figures also don't settle the question of a degree's value. These graduates had the lowest full-time employment rate among the surveyed fields, yet 76% rated the overall value of their degree as good or excellent, the highest share of any field. Their responses don't establish a specific reason for the high value, but the findings show graduates' value assessments don't always align with employment and earnings measures.
How to Assess Whether College Is Worth It for You
Most surveyed graduates found value in their degrees, but there are several factors, such as education costs, career preparation, and useful skills, that deserve attention alongside job placement and potential earnings.
There are steps you can take to help get better value out of your college education. Before enrolling, compare each program's true costs after grants and scholarships, not just the tuition costs. Consider:
Living expenses
How much you would need to borrow
The time you'll need to finish your degree
To estimate what you'll make and the amount of debt after graduation, you can use the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard to compare earnings and debt by institution.
While you're in school, look for opportunities to participate in faculty research, internships, and projects with private or nonprofit organizations. These types of experiences can help you apply classroom learning to practical problems, build professional connections, explore career interests, and receive feedback from faculty or professionals in your field.
The cheapest college isn't always the one offering the best value. Look for a program you can realistically complete at a manageable cost that also gives you the skills you need to succeed in your career and life goals.
You can also assess a school's Carnegie Classification, an American Council on Education designation indicating student access and earnings. If a school has the "Higher Access, Higher Earnings" classification, its student body includes a high share of Pell Grant-earners and underrepresented students, and its graduates have earnings higher than the baseline in the area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Whether College Was Worth the Cost in California
Internships may help with the initial job search. In our survey, 32% of graduates who completed internships or similar experiences found work before or within three months of graduating, compared with 23% that found work without that experience.
