Philosophy at San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
36
Optimistic
36
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,539/yr (-12% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,000 openings/yr)
ROI 19.2x earnings multiple (7.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #18 of 77 Philosophy programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $582K $569K $512K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.6x 19.2x 17.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.5x 7.4x 6.6x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 44% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 36 36 32

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 (7.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,528
-74% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,750
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,124
93% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $28,539/yr, roughly in line with the $32,297 national median for Philosophy. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 19.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Philosophy programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Philosophy's typical career paths, with 64% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 12% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $15,750 represents roughly 7 months of the $28,539 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #18 of 77 nationally, this is a top-5% Philosophy program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $55,124 show a 93% jump from the $28,539 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 20,033 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

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Mathematicians $121,680/yr
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary $79,350/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Philosophy at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Philosophy at San Francisco State University?
A score of 36/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Philosophy. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Philosophy careers?
With 64% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $512,114 in decade earnings vs $582,133 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes San Francisco State University's Philosophy program stand out?
Ranked #18 of 77 programs nationally, San Francisco 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 →