Financeat San Diego State University
Graduates earn $53,373/yr in their first year — about 4.0% below the national Finance average. Base-case 10-year earnings $645K; scenarios range from $579K to $666K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at San Diego State
Graduates earn $53,373/yr, roughly in line with the $55,340 national median for Finance. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The 19.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 55% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $53,373 far exceeding the $15,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #91 out of 431 programs, San Diego State University's Finance program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $53,373 to $70,355 shows 32% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to San Diego State's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Finance
How San Diego State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at San Diego State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at San Diego State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Finance offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Finance trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Finance at San Diego State
How does San Diego State University's Finance program score?
A score of 79/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. San Diego State University's Finance graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Finance to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Finance careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 55% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does San Diego State University rank so high for Finance?
The #91 ranking out of 431 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.