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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Public Administration bachelor's degree at San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are below similar programs.

$7,829 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
26.2% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−49% · Negative payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$57,264 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+24%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$41,020 → $50,842
50Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
64Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
73Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
100Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

140Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
38Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
92Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
37Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
10.1%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 15 non-completers
78Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,082Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$57,264$21,182 above the preliminary benchmark

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$15,364

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$15,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$57,264

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$159/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$15,364Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$27,780Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE36.2%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE76.4%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$41,020Year 1
$57,264Year 4
$50,842Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.3% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$4,772
Estimated loan payment$159
100borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$57,264 vs. $65,093

$7,829 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Managers, All Other$174,560 median wageCA estimate · 99,580 jobs · 11-9199$132,000–$221,560 middle 50% of CA wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTransportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$123,780 median wageCA estimate · 30,540 jobs · 11-3071$86,290–$166,100 middle 50% of CA wages+6.1% projected U.S. growth · 18,300 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentChief Executives$218,600 median wageCA estimate · 34,700 jobs · 11-1011$133,610–$351,090 middle 50% of CA wages+3.2% projected U.S. growth · 19,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeConstruction Managers$133,160 median wageCA estimate · 34,750 jobs · 11-9021$102,780–$168,070 middle 50% of CA wages+9.1% projected U.S. growth · 49,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeGeneral and Operations Managers$124,390 median wageCA estimate · 300,840 jobs · 11-1021$81,620–$186,230 middle 50% of CA wages+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 285,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeUrban and Regional Planners$109,610 median wageCA estimate · 7,460 jobs · 19-3051$90,330–$136,070 middle 50% of CA wages+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreePostmasters and Mail Superintendents$101,150 median wageCA estimate · 800 jobs · 11-9131$94,350–$111,740 middle 50% of CA wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 900 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentSocial and Community Service Managers$83,210 median wageCA estimate · 33,510 jobs · 11-9151$70,810–$114,090 middle 50% of CA wages+7.2% projected U.S. growth · 18,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTraffic Technicians$79,110 median wageCA estimate · 1,250 jobs · 53-6041$59,120–$85,240 middle 50% of CA wages+4.0% projected U.S. growth · 900 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentLegislatorsNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 11-1031
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Fullerton, CA

California State University, Fullerton

$11,233 higher earnings · $1,727 less debt · $8,809 lower annual net price

Earnings
$68,497
Debt
$13,273
Annual net price
$6,555
View outcomes →
Northridge, CA

California State University, Northridge

$28,525 higher earnings · $8,343 lower annual net price

Earnings
$85,789
Debt
$37,500
Annual net price
$7,021
View outcomes →
Carson, CA

California State University, Dominguez Hills

$10,744 higher earnings · $6,749 lower annual net price

Earnings
$68,008
Debt
$18,965
Annual net price
$8,615
View outcomes →
San Bernardino, CA

California State University, San Bernardino

$1,700 less debt · $10,800 lower annual net price

Earnings
$56,534
Debt
$13,300
Annual net price
$4,564
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

73 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

Calculate my payoff →