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Social Work 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 $36,916/yr (1% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)

ROI 16.8x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #66 of 338 Social Work programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$557K	$557K	$528K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.8x	16.8x	15.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.9x	6.9x	6.5x
Probability of Field Employment	70%	69%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	50	49	60

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 (6.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$64,696

-95% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

4.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$53,843

46% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

San Diego State University's Social Work program produces graduates earning $36,916/yr — within striking distance of the $36,554 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Social Work programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Social Work's typical career paths, with 24% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $15,000 in median debt clears quickly against $36,916 in annual earnings.

At #66 of 338 nationally, this is a top-5% Social Work program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $36,916 to $53,843 over five years — a 46% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About San Diego State University

Admission to San Diego State University is competitive, with 34% of applicants accepted, with 33,654 students enrolled in San Diego, CA.

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

Top Career Paths

Social and community service managers $78,240/yr

Social work teachers, postsecondary $76,210/yr

Social workers, all other $69,480/yr

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

Compare & Explore

Social Work at Other Schools

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Work at San Diego State University?

A score of 49/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Social Work. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

What makes San Diego State University's Social Work program stand out?

Ranked #66 of 338 programs nationally, San Diego State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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