Computer Scienceat San Francisco State University
Graduates earn $50,553/yr in their first year — about 31.0% below the national Computer Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,191K; scenarios range from $848K to $1,261K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at SF State
While the Bay Area is the epicenter of the tech world, your competition here will be unlike anywhere else. You'll be vying for roles against graduates from Stanford, Berkeley, and other elite global programs who flock to Silicon Valley. SF State provides a solid, practical computer science education, but it isn't the primary recruiting target for top-tier firms like Google or Apple. Graduates often land excellent roles at established non-tech companies needing robust IT departments, government agencies, or scrappy early-stage startups that can't compete on salary with the giants. This creates a different earnings trajectory than at more selective, research-focused universities. To break into the highest-paying roles, you must aggressively build a portfolio outside of class, network relentlessly, and secure internships that prove you can compete with talent from any school in the world.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to SF State's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Computer Science
How SF State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at SF State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at SF State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Computer Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Computer Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Computer Science at SF State
How does San Francisco State University's Computer Science program score?
A score of 82/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. San Francisco State University's Computer Science graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Computer Science to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Computer Science careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 72% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Computer Science 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.