Comparison Factors
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Program Basics
| Factor | UCSC Econ | SJSU Econ | SFSU Econ | SFSU MSBA | SJSU MSDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Length | 3 quarters (≈ 12 mo) | 4 sem (≈ 18-20 mo) | 3 sem (≈ 15 mo) | 3-4 sem (≈ 16-18 mo) | 4 sem (≈ 24 mo) |
| Tuition Cost | ≈ US$48-50k | ≈ US$22-25k | ≈ US$26-27k | ≈ US$29-31k | ≈ US$20-22k |
| Total Cost (incl. living) | ≈ US$75-82k | ≈ US$57-65k | ≈ US$56-66k | ≈ US$65-77k | ≈ US$68-81k |
| STEM OPT Eligible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Brand Recognition | High (UC System) | Medium (CSU, Silicon Valley) | Medium (CSU, SF Location) | Medium (CSU, Business Focus) | Medium (CSU, Tech Focus) |
Career Outcomes
| Factor | UCSC Econ | SJSU Econ | SFSU Econ | SFSU MSBA | SJSU MSDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Placement | Big Tech, Big 4, Banks, Fed | Tech FP&A, Product Analytics | Gov Policy, Data Analytics | BI, Tech Analytics, Consulting | Data Science, ML Engineering |
| Expected Salary Range | US$100-140k | US$100-120k | US$90-115k | US$105-125k | US$115-140k |
| Payback Period | 1.5-3 years | 1-2 years | 1-2.5 years | 1.5-2 years | 1.5-2 years |
| Alumni Network | Strong (UC System-wide) | Medium (Silicon Valley focus) | Medium (SF focus) | Medium (Business connections) | Medium (Tech industry) |
| H-1B Sponsorship | Higher chance (prestige) | Good (tech companies) | Good (gov/NGO options) | Good (business/tech firms) | Very good (data science roles) |
Program Features
| Factor | UCSC Econ | SJSU Econ | SFSU Econ | SFSU MSBA | SJSU MSDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Focus | Financial Economics, Econometrics | Applied Economics, Tech Finance | Quantitative Methods, Policy | Business Analytics, Data Viz | ML/AI, Data Engineering |
| TA/RA Funding | ~30% of cohort (US$7-10k) | Rare, limited value | Rare, limited value | Rare, limited value | Rare, limited value |
| Internship Window | Limited (short summer CPT) | Strong (summer + term-time) | Medium (summer + possible term) | Strong (practicum + summer) | Very strong (multiple terms) |
| Location | Santa Cruz (commute to SV/SF) | San Jose (Silicon Valley) | San Francisco (Downtown) | San Francisco (Downtown) | San Jose (Silicon Valley) |
| Program Intensity | High (12-month program) | Moderate (18-20 months) | Moderate (15 months) | Moderate (16-18 months) | Lower (spread over 24 months) |
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