Top Ranked Programs
San Diego State University's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 23% of degree output, followed by Engineering at 9% and Social Sciences at 7%. That applied-professional concentration shapes the institution's earnings profile: the largest programs by cohort size tend to sit in business-adjacent and social-science fields, while the highest four-year earnings come from engineering and technical disciplines. Business Administration is the largest program with 1,875 graduates, and Azimuth ranks it #50 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $69,902. Psychology, General (699 graduates, $51,021) and Criminal Justice (417 graduates, $57,510) round out the high-enrollment core. The strongest four-year earnings come from a different cluster. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #91 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 259 graduates earning $100,586 — the highest early-career figure at San Diego State University. Mechanical Engineering follows at $97,825 (Azimuth ranks it #35 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions), and Business Administration graduates 1,875 students into roles earning $69,902. These programs represent a narrower slice of total enrollment but contribute meaningfully to the institution's overall earnings outcomes, as evaluated [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The split between high-enrollment business and social-science programs and smaller but higher-earning engineering and technical programs is a defining feature of San Diego State University's academic portfolio. Students choosing business or communication fields enter broad, well-recruited labor markets with solid mid-range earnings, while those in engineering and quantitative fields access higher starting pay in San Diego's defense, biotech, and technology sectors. The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides additional context for how these program families align with regional and national hiring demand. Across 61 programs serving roughly 8,957 students annually, 53 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — a broad portfolio that gives students meaningful choice across earnings tiers. ```