Journalism at San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
45
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings
$31,788/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market
Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI
21.7x earnings multiple (8.3x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Journalism graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $669K | $644K | $564K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 22.5x | 21.7x | 19.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 8.7x | 8.3x | 7.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 53% | 46% | 31% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 46 | 45 | 42 |
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 (8.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
5.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,760
107% growth from Year 1
About San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University has a 96% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, 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
Communications teachers, postsecondary
$77,800/yr
Editors
$75,260/yr
Writers and authors
$72,270/yr
Compare & Explore
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does San Francisco State University's Journalism program score?
This program scores 45/100 — on the lower end for Journalism. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Journalism to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Journalism careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 64% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does San Francisco State University rank so high for Journalism?
The #20 ranking out of 178 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →