Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $23,190/yr fall 38% below the $37,172 national median for Liberal Arts and Sciences. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 19.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Liberal Arts and Sciences programs nationally.
AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic ten-year scenarios is just 4% — this field's hands-on core resists automation.
Median debt of $12,838 represents roughly 7 months of the $23,190 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #207 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs, San Diego State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $58,202 show a 151% jump from the $23,190 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.