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San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 33,654 Undergrads 81.0% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$27,357
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,174
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,909
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$16,174
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$64,909
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate81.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients32.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time89.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
34.4%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$555k
+$158k
+$70k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$497k
+$100k
+$12k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$456k
+$60k
-$28k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
55
21%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-29%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return45%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-40%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$15,218
Earnings (5yr)
$96,719
Lifetime Value Added
+$261k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$23,417
Earnings (5yr)
$93,649
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$12,886
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$341k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$23,793
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$328k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,010
Earnings (5yr)
$70,169
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$74,342
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$17,999
Earnings (5yr)
$67,059
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$19,832
Earnings (5yr)
$96,325
Lifetime Value Added
+$258k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,719
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$75,255
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$16,375
Earnings (5yr)
$87,236
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$17,249
Earnings (2yr)
$70,456
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$16,866
Earnings (5yr)
$114,373
Lifetime Value Added
+$393k
Construction Engineering Technologies
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$72,231
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$13,499
Earnings (5yr)
$55,637
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$13,832
Earnings (5yr)
$56,904
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,624
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$28,363
Lifetime Value Added
-$280k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (5yr)
$77,568
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$17,999
Earnings (5yr)
$100,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$287k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$15,122
Earnings (5yr)
$50,504
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
BachCIP: 1414
Median Debt
$16,997
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$23,080
Earnings (5yr)
$44,417
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,355
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$10,299
Earnings (5yr)
$40,935
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$15,285
Earnings (5yr)
$64,740
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$26,150
Earnings (5yr)
$62,278
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$13,881
Earnings (5yr)
$45,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,612
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$13,110
Earnings (5yr)
$62,849
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$15,124
Earnings (5yr)
$67,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$14,998
Earnings (2yr)
$31,305
Lifetime Value Added
-$238k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$12,838
Earnings (5yr)
$58,202
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$79,506
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$19,499
Earnings (5yr)
$99,279
Lifetime Value Added
+$280k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$15,225
Earnings (5yr)
$47,974
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$15,383
Earnings (5yr)
$34,258
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$12,726
Earnings (5yr)
$58,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
$14,999
Earnings (5yr)
$62,734
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (2yr)
$46,456
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$17,364
Earnings (5yr)
$70,987
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$14,872
Earnings (5yr)
$46,082
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$14,999
Earnings (5yr)
$50,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$16,111
Earnings (5yr)
$69,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$15,332
Earnings (5yr)
$53,045
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$17,375
Earnings (5yr)
$109,894
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$14,957
Earnings (5yr)
$43,905
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$20,081
Earnings (5yr)
$31,866
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,843
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,363
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$13,125
Earnings (2yr)
$33,990
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$12,691
Earnings (5yr)
$45,763
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$117,624
Lifetime Value Added
+$561k
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
MastCIP: 1302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$55,840
Earnings (5yr)
$108,004
Lifetime Value Added
+$478k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,064
Lifetime Value Added
+$247k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$38,020
Earnings (5yr)
$83,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$269k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$24,662
Earnings (5yr)
$82,932
Lifetime Value Added
+$263k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
International Relations and National Security Studies
MastCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$29,455
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$38,020
Earnings (5yr)
$91,167
Lifetime Value Added
+$334k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$104,192
Lifetime Value Added
+$500k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$33,272
Earnings (2yr)
$51,273
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$47,128
Earnings (2yr)
$16,663
Lifetime Value Added
-$347k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,395
Earnings (5yr)
$76,958
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$88,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$312k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$24,008
Earnings (5yr)
$73,724
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$39,964
Earnings (5yr)
$48,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$13,666
Earnings (5yr)
$76,325
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
Doctoral Degrees
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$74,580
Earnings (5yr)
$82,604
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.