DegreeVerdict
ROI Calculator
Home›Colleges›San Diego State University
Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF

San Diego State University

⌖ San Diego, CA · 85 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff

−$36,576 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.

11.8 yrsModeled economic break-even
−15%Modeled 10-year ROI
$65,488Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$36,576at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$241,4560
2
4
6
8
−$36,57610
Years after graduationBreak-even: 11.8 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$8,728
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$21,328
Sticker price
Average net price$15,364
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$27,780
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$15,364Average net price / year
$27,780Cost of attendance
$65,488Median earnings · year 5 after completion
76.4%Completion rate
36.2%Admission rate
35,377Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

86thEarnings percentile
77thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$42,235Year 1
$68,268Year 4
$65,488Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree$165,5642Educational Administration and Supervision · Doctoral Degree$158,0133Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Bachelor's Degree$120,7994Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$120,6825Computer Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$116,8426Psychology, General · Master's Degree$111,5497Finance and Financial Management Services · Master's Degree$110,8308Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$106,416

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in CA

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

Rohnert Park, CA

Sonoma State University

Annual net price
$12,885
Observed earnings · year 5
$65,250
Modeled 10-year ROI
-13%
Open college profile →Riverside, CA

University of California, Riverside

Annual net price
$14,304
Observed earnings · year 5
$63,411
Modeled 10-year ROI
-22%
Open college profile →Santa Cruz, CA

University of California, Santa Cruz

Annual net price
$17,890
Observed earnings · year 5
$64,162
Modeled 10-year ROI
-24%
Open college profile →Chico, CA

California State University, Chico

Annual net price
$14,480
Observed earnings · year 5
$62,509
Modeled 10-year ROI
-26%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingMaster's Degree$165,564Not available
Educational Administration and SupervisionDoctoral Degree$158,013Not available
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$120,799$18,875
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree$120,682Not available
Computer EngineeringBachelor's Degree$116,842$16,248
Psychology, GeneralMaster's Degree$111,549Not available
Finance and Financial Management ServicesMaster's Degree$110,830Not available
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringBachelor's Degree$106,416$18,165
Accounting and Related ServicesMaster's Degree$103,392Not available
Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree$100,586$16,499
Construction Engineering Technology/TechnicianBachelor's Degree$100,564Not available
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space EngineeringBachelor's Degree$100,139$23,000
Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$97,825$19,994
Civil EngineeringBachelor's Degree$95,865$19,832
International Relations and National Security StudiesMaster's Degree$94,199Not available
Public AdministrationMaster's Degree$91,303Not available
Environmental/Environmental Health EngineeringBachelor's Degree$88,417$19,089
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree$88,136$15,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesMaster's Degree$87,991Not available
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsDoctoral Degree$87,179Not available
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$86,613$16,375
Communication and Media StudiesMaster's Degree$84,280Not available
Special Education and TeachingMaster's Degree$84,034Not available
Public HealthMaster's Degree$83,325Not available
StatisticsBachelor's Degree$83,076$16,047
Educational Administration and SupervisionMaster's Degree$82,905Not available
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasMaster's Degree$82,189Not available
MarketingBachelor's Degree$81,368$15,000
Microbiological Sciences and ImmunologyBachelor's Degree$81,122$15,500
Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$80,011$15,218
Social WorkMaster's Degree$78,813Not available
ChemistryBachelor's Degree$74,676$17,499
Student Counseling and Personnel ServicesMaster's Degree$74,187Not available
EconomicsBachelor's Degree$74,123$15,250
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesBachelor's Degree$73,647$21,500
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesMaster's Degree$73,113Not available
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$73,095$26,150
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsMaster's Degree$70,426Not available
Hospitality Administration/ManagementBachelor's Degree$70,113$17,749
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$69,902$15,000
Applied MathematicsBachelor's Degree$69,606$24,563
International BusinessBachelor's Degree$69,141$13,644
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)$68,996Not available
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$68,861$17,998
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftMaster's Degree$67,588Not available
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationBachelor's Degree$67,414$17,038
CriminologyMaster's Degree$67,163Not available
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition ServicesBachelor's Degree$66,649Not available
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$64,824$17,068
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsMaster's Degree$61,680Not available
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesBachelor's Degree$61,510$15,000
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$61,389$15,675
Public HealthBachelor's Degree$60,904$13,812
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$59,914$15,000
International Relations and National Security StudiesBachelor's Degree$59,733$17,134
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesBachelor's Degree$58,419$12,496
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchBachelor's Degree$58,215$13,191
Geography and CartographyBachelor's Degree$58,004$14,999
MathematicsBachelor's Degree$57,999$11,943
HistoryBachelor's Degree$57,861$13,881
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree$57,510$12,998
Public AdministrationBachelor's Degree$57,264$15,000
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure StudiesBachelor's Degree$57,093$14,999
Social WorkBachelor's Degree$56,674$15,176
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesBachelor's Degree$55,230$20,499
Nutrition SciencesBachelor's Degree$55,115$18,000
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherBachelor's Degree$55,072$15,862
Design and Applied ArtsBachelor's Degree$54,569$13,716
JournalismBachelor's Degree$53,997$14,998
AnthropologyBachelor's Degree$53,991$13,099
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsBachelor's Degree$53,621$19,999
PhilosophyBachelor's Degree$53,390$27,000
SociologyBachelor's Degree$53,387$12,500
Social Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$52,095$20,915
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$51,021$14,301
Real EstateBachelor's Degree$50,662$18,875
English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$49,406$14,997
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsBachelor's Degree$49,167$14,957
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$48,471$12,999
English Language and Literature, GeneralMaster's Degree$48,158Not available
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationBachelor's Degree$43,485$15,248
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesBachelor's Degree$42,922$11,000
MusicBachelor's Degree$42,090$15,131
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftBachelor's Degree$41,812$15,000
Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree$35,416$9,899

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.