Standard four- and six-year freshman graduation rates are a poor way to evaluate UCSF because it is not a traditional freshman-entry undergraduate university. Its MD, DDS, PharmD, nursing and research degrees follow different schedules and completion rules.
A more useful comparison is the published outcome for the exact program under consideration. Depending on the field, that may include time to degree, completion, professional examination results, residency placement or other program-defined measures. Applicants should check both the population counted and the measurement period: a licensing-exam pass rate, for example, answers a different question from the proportion of entering students who complete a degree.
Potential earnings after UCSF depend heavily on the credential, occupation, location and career stage. A single university-wide salary figure would blur major differences between, for example, a newly qualified clinician, a physician in residency and a biomedical researcher.
When comparing published earnings, applicants should check whether a figure is a median or an average, whether it measures wages one year or several years after completion, and whether it includes only graduates working in covered employment. Salary alone also omits educational debt, required postgraduate training and the cost of living. Program-specific earnings and debt information can inform a decision, but they are not a prediction of an individual's income.
MASTER’S Degree
Health Professions and Related Programs
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Engineering
Social Sciences
DOCTOR’S Degree
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Health Professions and Related Programs
Engineering
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Social Sciences
Data last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.