Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Earnings growth at San Diego State University shows steady progression from early to mid-career periods. Graduates earn $52,620 six years after enrollment, increasing to $61,120 at eight years and reaching $64,909 at ten years.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings align with peer institutions — outcomes are in line with similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $15,000 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
San Diego State University graduates maintain manageable debt levels that support long-term financial health. Median student debt is $15,000, ranking at the 85.0th percentile nationally for low debt levels.
San Diego State University demonstrates above-average return on educational investment, ranking at the 62.0th percentile nationally. Graduates earn $205 beyond expectations compared to students with similar demographics at peer institutions, placing SDSU at the 57.0th percentile for value creation.
Approximately 26.1% of San Diego State University graduates continue to graduate or professional study, based on program mix analysis with high confid...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
San Diego State University's strongest earning programs demonstrate the institution's effectiveness across technical and professional fields. Adult Health Nurse/Nursing leads at $96,266, followed closely by Computer Science ($91,805) and Mechanical Engineering ($91,140), all exceeding $90,000 in median earnings.
Civil Engineering ($86,596) and International Business ($67,271) provide additional high-earning options. Even broader programs like Business Administration produce solid outcomes at $66,177 while serving 1,682 graduates.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
The earnings distribution at San Diego State University reveals meaningful variation in graduate outcomes. Earnings range from $39,563 at the 25th percentile to $94,570 at the 75th percentile, creating a 2.4:1 ratio between top and bottom quartiles.
