Philosophy at San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
26
Optimistic
26
Base Case
22
Pessimistic
Earnings
$29,712/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market
Medium (15,000 openings/yr)
ROI
12.9x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Philosophy graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $415K | $426K | $416K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.5x | 12.9x | 12.6x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.1x | 5.3x | 5.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 51% | 44% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 26 | 26 | 22 |
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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
10.1 months of Year 1 earnings
About San Diego State University
A 34% acceptance rate puts San Diego State University in competitive admissions territory, one of the larger campuses at 33,654 students in San Diego, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at San Diego State University →Top Career Paths
Natural sciences managers
$161,180/yr
Mathematicians
$121,680/yr
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
$79,350/yr
Compare & Explore
Philosophy at Other Schools
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Philosophy at San Diego State University?
A score of 26/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Philosophy. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Philosophy careers?
With 64% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $416,377 in decade earnings vs $414,985 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →