Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $44,125 place San Diego State University below the $53,966 national median for Economics — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 22.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Economics programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Economics's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 17% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $44,125 far exceeding the $15,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #76 of 351 nationally, this is a top-5% Economics program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $77,568 show a 76% jump from the $44,125 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.