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Journalism at San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,269/yr (-12% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)

Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)

ROI 12.8x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #131 of 178 Journalism programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Journalism graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$415K	$426K	$416K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.5x	12.8x	12.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.1x	5.3x	5.2x
Probability of Field Employment	53%	46%	31%
DegreeOutlook Score	29	28	26

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$33,160

Out-of-state: $80,680 (5.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$64,696

-95% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,998

5.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

San Diego State University's Journalism program produces graduates earning $30,269/yr — within striking distance of the $34,417 national average for this field.

The 12.8x 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 — 64% task exposure — and the -0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $14,998 in median debt clears quickly against $30,269 in annual earnings.

At #131 out of 178 programs, San Diego State University's financial outcomes for Journalism trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About San Diego State University

Admission to San Diego State University is competitive, with 34% of applicants accepted, serving a student body of 33,654 in San Diego, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at San Diego State University →

Top Career Paths

Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr

Editors $75,260/yr

Writers and authors $72,270/yr

View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Journalism at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does San Diego State University's Journalism program score?

This program scores 28/100 — on the lower end for Journalism. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Journalism to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Journalism careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 64% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →