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Computer Engineering at San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
80 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
82
Optimistic
80
Base Case
74
Pessimistic
Earnings $53,180/yr (-32% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (71% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (167,700 openings/yr)
ROI 39.2x earnings multiple (15.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #81 of 174 Computer Engineering programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,248K $1,164K $852K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 42.0x 39.2x 28.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 16.2x 15.1x 11.0x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 74% 43%
DegreeOutlook Score 82 80 74

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,696
Out-of-state: $77,216 (15.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,528
-74% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,750
3.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$111,112
109% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $53,180 place San Francisco State University below the $78,694 national median for Computer Engineering — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 39.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 71% of job tasks, producing a 32% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

With first-year pay of $53,180 far exceeding the $13,750 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #81 out of 174 programs, San Francisco State University's Computer Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $53,180 to $111,112 over five years (109% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 20,033 students enrolled in San Francisco, CA. 41% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

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

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Computer hardware engineers $155,020/yr
Database architects $135,980/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 174 schools offering Computer Engineering →

Computer Engineering at Other Schools

University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($141,588) University of Washington-Bothell Campus ($141,588) University of Virginia-Main Campus ($118,232) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($111,560) Duke University ($111,145) Santa Clara University ($103,804) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($103,123) Columbia University in the City of New York ($102,083)

Other Majors at San Francisco State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($117,532) Mechanical Engineering ($72,647) Civil Engineering ($68,256) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($67,345) Finance and Financial Management Services ($62,778) Accounting and Related Services ($60,607) International Business ($58,560) Microbiological Sciences and Immunology ($56,071)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Computer Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does San Francisco State University's Computer Engineering program score?
A score of 80/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. San Francisco State University's Computer Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Computer Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Computer Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 71% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Computer Engineering earnings lower at San Francisco State University?
Lower starting pay at San Francisco State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →