San Diego State University

San Diego, California · Public

Of 91 assessed programs, 89 leave graduates out-earning a typical California high-school graduate (about $36,976/yr) and 2 fall short. Another 135 could not be assessed.

What would this cost you?

My family earns and I expect to take

Family income	Net price per year
Under $30k	$9,910
$30k to $48k	$10,017
$48k to $75k	$12,697
$75k to $110k	$15,891
$110k and up	$23,821
All families (average)	$15,364

Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). It reflects students who received federal aid.

Program earnings vs a high-school graduate

Earnings are measured four years after completion when available. Where four-year earnings are suppressed, one-year earnings are shown and marked 1-year earnings. One-year and four-year figures reflect different career stages and should not be compared as if measured at the same time.

91 of 226 programs could be assessed 40% have an earnings verdict

Programs by earnings versus a typical California high-school graduate.
Program	Degree	Median earnings	vs a high-school grad	Verdict	Median debt	Years to repay	Recent completers
Business Administration	Bachelor's Degree	$69,902	+$32,926	clears the bar	$15,000	0.5 yrs	1,875
Psychology	Bachelor's Degree	$51,021	+$14,045	clears the bar	$14,872	1.1 yrs	699
Criminal Justice	Bachelor's Degree	$57,510	+$20,534	clears the bar	$13,499	0.7 yrs	417
Kinesiology and Physical Education	Bachelor's Degree	$59,914	+$22,938	clears the bar	$15,285	0.7 yrs	406
Interdisciplinary Studies	Bachelor's Degree	$55,072	+$18,096	clears the bar	$15,225	0.8 yrs	356
Communications and Media	Bachelor's Degree	$61,389	+$24,413	clears the bar	$15,000	0.6 yrs	290
Biology	Bachelor's Degree	$68,861	+$31,885	clears the bar	$18,010	0.6 yrs	285
Computer Science	Bachelor's Degree	$100,586	+$63,610	clears the bar	$16,866	0.3 yrs	259
Fine Arts	Bachelor's Degree	$35,416	-$1,560	falls short	$10,299	insufficient data	247
Mechanical Engineering	Bachelor's Degree	$97,825	+$60,849	clears the bar	$19,499	0.3 yrs	244
Liberal Arts and General Studies	Bachelor's Degree	$58,419	+$21,443	clears the bar	$12,838	0.6 yrs	232
Civil Engineering	Bachelor's Degree	$95,865	+$58,889	clears the bar	$19,832	0.3 yrs	227
Nursing	Bachelor's Degree	$120,799	+$83,823	clears the bar	$17,375	0.2 yrs	212
Teacher Education (by level)	Master's Degree	$61,680	+$24,704	clears the bar	$39,964	1.6 yrs	193
Economics	Bachelor's Degree	$74,123	+$37,147	clears the bar	$15,250	0.4 yrs	177
Sociology	Bachelor's Degree	$53,387	+$16,411	clears the bar	$12,500	0.8 yrs	162
Public Health	Bachelor's Degree	$60,904	+$23,928	clears the bar	$15,000	0.6 yrs	162
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology	Bachelor's Degree	$61,510	+$24,534	clears the bar	$14,000	0.6 yrs	154
Journalism	Bachelor's Degree	$53,997	+$17,021	clears the bar	$14,998	0.9 yrs	145
Teacher Education (by level)	Bachelor's Degree	$48,471	+$11,495	clears the bar	$12,691	1.1 yrs	142
Political Science	Bachelor's Degree	$64,824	+$27,848	clears the bar	$17,364	0.6 yrs	136
Natural Resources and Conservation	Bachelor's Degree	$58,215	+$21,239	clears the bar	$12,726	0.6 yrs	119
Computer Engineering	Bachelor's Degree	$116,842	+$79,866	clears the bar	$17,249	0.2 yrs	116
English	Bachelor's Degree	$49,406	+$12,430	clears the bar	$15,122	1.2 yrs	116
Chemistry	Bachelor's Degree	$74,676	+$37,700	clears the bar	$17,999	0.5 yrs	114
Public Health	Master's Degree	$83,325	+$46,349	clears the bar	$38,020	0.8 yrs	112
Nutrition Sciences	Bachelor's Degree	$55,115	+$18,139	clears the bar	$17,849	1.0 yrs	110
Social Work	Master's Degree	$78,813	+$41,837	clears the bar	$22,395	0.5 yrs	107
Electrical Engineering	Bachelor's Degree	$106,416	+$69,440	clears the bar	$17,999	0.3 yrs	106
Social Work	Bachelor's Degree	$56,674	+$19,698	clears the bar	$15,000	0.8 yrs	105
International Business	Bachelor's Degree	$69,141	+$32,165	clears the bar	$13,110	0.4 yrs	97
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	Bachelor's Degree	$49,167	+$12,191	clears the bar	$14,957	1.2 yrs	93
Business Administration	Master's Degree	$120,682	+$83,706	clears the bar	$55,840	0.7 yrs	85
Radio, TV and Digital Media	Bachelor's Degree	$43,485	+$6,509	clears the bar	$15,332	2.4 yrs	84
School Counseling	Master's Degree	$74,187	+$37,211	clears the bar	$24,008	0.6 yrs	84
Public Administration	Bachelor's Degree	$57,264	+$20,288	clears the bar	$14,999	0.7 yrs	76
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	Bachelor's Degree	$100,139	+$63,163	clears the bar	$23,417	0.4 yrs	70
History	Bachelor's Degree	$57,861	+$20,885	clears the bar	$13,881	0.7 yrs	67
Hospitality Management	Bachelor's Degree	$70,113	+$33,137	clears the bar	$15,000	0.5 yrs	64
Music	Bachelor's Degree	$42,090	+$5,114	clears the bar	$15,383	3.0 yrs	55
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies	Bachelor's Degree	$55,230	+$18,254	clears the bar	$23,080	1.3 yrs	54
Social Sciences	Bachelor's Degree	$52,095	+$15,119	clears the bar	$20,081	1.3 yrs	54
Physical and Occupational Therapy	Master's Degree	$70,426	+$33,450	clears the bar	$33,272	1.0 yrs	54
International Relations	Bachelor's Degree	$59,733	+$22,757	clears the bar	$15,124	0.7 yrs	52
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology	Master's Degree	$87,991	+$51,015	clears the bar	$38,020	0.7 yrs	43
Applied Mathematics	Bachelor's Degree	$69,606	+$32,630	clears the bar	$23,793	0.7 yrs	42
Theatre	Bachelor's Degree	$41,812	+$4,836	clears the bar	$15,000	3.1 yrs	42
Public Relations and Advertising	Bachelor's Degree	$67,414	+$30,438	clears the bar	$16,111	0.5 yrs	41
Communications and Media	Master's Degree	$84,280	+$47,304	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	40
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician	Bachelor's Degree	$100,564	+$63,588	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	39
International Relations	Master's Degree	$94,199	+$57,223	clears the bar	$29,455	0.5 yrs	39
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering	Bachelor's Degree	$88,417	+$51,441	clears the bar	$16,997	0.3 yrs	38
Statistics	Bachelor's Degree	$83,076	+$46,100	clears the bar	$13,125	0.3 yrs	38
Mathematics	Bachelor's Degree	$57,999	+$21,023	clears the bar	$8,772	0.4 yrs	37
Educational Administration	Doctoral Degree	$158,013	+$121,037	clears the bar	$64,225	0.5 yrs	36
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services	Bachelor's Degree	$42,922	+$5,946	clears the bar	$11,000	1.8 yrs	32
Anthropology	Bachelor's Degree	$53,991	+$17,015	clears the bar	$12,886	0.8 yrs	32
Philosophy	Bachelor's Degree	$53,390	+$16,414	clears the bar	$25,000	1.5 yrs	29
Geography and Cartography	Bachelor's Degree	$58,004	+$21,028	clears the bar	$14,999	0.7 yrs	29
Allied Health Diagnostics and Treatment	Bachelor's Degree	$53,621	+$16,645	clears the bar	$20,000	1.2 yrs	27
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology	Bachelor's Degree	$81,122	+$44,146	clears the bar	$15,500	0.4 yrs	25
Psychology	Master's Degree	$111,549	+$74,573	clears the bar	$30,710	0.4 yrs	25
Accounting	Master's Degree	$103,392	+$66,416	clears the bar	$20,000	0.3 yrs	25
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	Master's Degree	$73,113	+$36,137	clears the bar	$47,128	1.3 yrs	23
Geology and Earth Science	Bachelor's Degree	$73,647	+$36,671	clears the bar	$21,500	0.6 yrs	21
Civil Engineering	Master's Degree	$86,359 1-year earnings	+$49,383	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	20
Statistics	Master's Degree	$88,511 1-year earnings	+$51,535	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	20
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies	Bachelor's Degree	$57,093	+$20,117	clears the bar	$14,999	0.7 yrs	19
Public Administration	Master's Degree	$91,303	+$54,327	clears the bar	$28,278	0.5 yrs	18
Nursing	Master's Degree	$165,564	+$128,588	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	17
English	Master's Degree	$48,158	+$11,182	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	13
Theatre	Master's Degree	$67,588	+$30,612	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	12
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other	Master's Degree	$114,126 1-year earnings	+$77,150	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	11
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	Bachelor's Degree	$17,464 1-year earnings	-$19,512	falls short	insufficient data	insufficient data	10
Criminology	Master's Degree	$67,163	+$30,187	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	10
Education	Doctoral Degree	$93,908 1-year earnings	+$56,932	clears the bar	$25,712	0.5 yrs	8
Counseling Psychology	Doctoral Degree	$84,055 1-year earnings	+$47,079	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Teacher Education (by subject)	Master's Degree	$82,189	+$45,213	clears the bar	$13,666	0.3 yrs	0
Health Sciences	Bachelor's Degree	$73,095	+$36,119	clears the bar	$26,150	0.7 yrs	0
Physical and Occupational Therapy	Doctoral Degree	$87,179	+$50,203	clears the bar	$74,580	1.5 yrs	0
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services	Bachelor's Degree	$66,649	+$29,673	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Accounting	Bachelor's Degree	$80,011	+$43,035	clears the bar	$15,218	0.4 yrs	0
Computer and Information Science	Bachelor's Degree	$86,613	+$49,637	clears the bar	$16,375	0.3 yrs	insufficient data
Educational Administration	Master's Degree	$82,905	+$45,929	clears the bar	$24,662	0.5 yrs	insufficient data
Special Education	Master's Degree	$84,034	+$47,058	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data
Liberal Arts and General Studies	Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)	$68,996	+$32,020	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data
Design	Bachelor's Degree	$54,569	+$17,593	clears the bar	$13,832	0.8 yrs	insufficient data
Finance	Bachelor's Degree	$88,136	+$51,160	clears the bar	$15,000	0.3 yrs	insufficient data
Finance	Master's Degree	$110,830	+$73,854	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data
Marketing	Bachelor's Degree	$81,368	+$44,392	clears the bar	$15,000	0.3 yrs	insufficient data
Real Estate	Bachelor's Degree	$50,662	+$13,686	clears the bar	$18,649	1.4 yrs	insufficient data
Education	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	237
Mental Health and Counseling Services	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	68
Hospitality Management	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	44
Physical and Occupational Therapy	First Professional Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	38
Computer Science	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	29
Mechanical Engineering	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	20
Electrical Engineering	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	19
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	18
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	17
Biology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	17
Urban Studies/Affairs	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	17
History	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	17
Physics	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	16
Nutrition Sciences	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	15
Management Science	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	15
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	14
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology	First Professional Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	13
Teacher Education (by level)	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	12
Sociology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	12
Public Health	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	12
Finance	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	12
Computer Software and Media Applications	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	11
Applied Mathematics	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	11
Counseling Psychology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	11
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	11
Area Studies	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	10
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	10
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	10
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	10
Chemistry	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	10
Fine Arts	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	10
Music	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	10
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	9
Mathematics	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	9
Religion/Religious Studies	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	9
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Biology	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Economics	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Philosophy	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Geography and Cartography	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Political Science	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Film and Photography	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Engineering, Other	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
Liberal Arts and General Studies	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
Gerontology	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
Astronomy and Astrophysics	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
Pharmacy	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
Chemistry	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Geology and Earth Science	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Anthropology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Dance	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Physical and Occupational Therapy	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Teacher Education (by subject)	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Computational Science	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Linguistics and Anthropology	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Astronomy and Astrophysics	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release 2026-06-10. Earnings are medians measured four years after completion where available (programs shown with a 1-year figure are marked), compared with the state high-school-graduate benchmark ($36,976/yr). Debt is federal loans only. Suppressed values are shown as insufficient data, never imputed. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise.