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Marketing 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 $48,229/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (54% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (204,300 openings/yr)

ROI 20.3x earnings multiple (8.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #20 of 502 Marketing programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$699K	$674K	$591K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.1x	20.3x	17.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.7x	8.4x	7.3x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	72	71	64

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 (8.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$64,696

-95% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

3.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$79,506

65% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $48,229 per year, Marketing graduates from San Diego State University earn slightly above the $45,450 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 20.3x 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 — 54% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $15,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #20 out of 502 programs, San Diego State University's Marketing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $48,229 to $79,506 over five years (65% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About San Diego State University

A 34% acceptance rate puts San Diego State University in competitive admissions territory, 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

Marketing managers $161,030/yr

Sales managers $138,060/yr

Advertising and promotions managers $126,960/yr

View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Marketing at Other Schools

Compare Marketing

Other Majors at San Diego State University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. San Diego State University's Marketing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Marketing to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Marketing careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 54% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does San Diego State University rank so high for Marketing?

The #20 ranking out of 502 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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