Design at San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
54
Optimistic
53
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings
$34,845/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
24.1x earnings multiple (9.3x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Design graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $736K | $716K | $649K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 24.8x | 24.1x | 21.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 9.5x | 9.3x | 8.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 54 | 53 | 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)
$29,696
Out-of-state: $77,216 (9.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$71,008
104% growth from Year 1
About San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 20,033 students 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
Art directors
$111,040/yr
Architecture teachers, postsecondary
$101,480/yr
Special effects artists and animators
$99,800/yr
Compare & Explore
Design at Other Schools
Other Majors at San Francisco State University
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design at San Francisco State University?
A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Design field.
Will AI replace Design careers?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $648,985 in decade earnings vs $736,393 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →