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Journalism bachelor's degree outcomes at San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public · Federal field 0904

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$2,281 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
27.8% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−63% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$30,269Not available
Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
27Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$15,364

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

02 · BORROWING$14,998

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$53,997

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.

$30,269Year 1
$53,997Year 4
Not availableYear 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.5% 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$4,500
Estimated loan payment$159
27borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$53,997 vs. $56,278

$2,281 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.
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,200 median wageU.S. estimate · 4,140 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$135,000 median wageCA estimate · 3,140 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEditors$98,030 median wageCA estimate · 14,830 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$86,480 median wageCA estimate · 8,390 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFilm and Video Editors$88,490 median wageCA estimate · 8,110 jobs · 27-4032+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 3.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeProofreaders and Copy Markers$57,490 median wageCA estimate · 300 jobs · 43-9081-0.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhotographers$47,840 median wageCA estimate · 7,980 jobs · 27-4021-0.7% projected U.S. growth · 10.7k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$47,340 median wageU.S. estimate · 1,620 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
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.

Chico, CA

California State University, Chico

$9,361 higher earnings · $884 lower annual net price

Earnings
$63,358
Debt
$18,750
Annual net price
$14,480
View outcomes →
Irvine, CA

University of California, Irvine

$3,495 higher earnings · $1,113 lower annual net price

Earnings
$57,492
Debt
$16,900
Annual net price
$14,251
View outcomes →
San Francisco, CA

San Francisco State University

$3,263 higher earnings · $3,086 lower annual net price

Earnings
$57,260
Debt
$16,875
Annual net price
$12,278
View outcomes →
Long Beach, CA

California State University, Long Beach

$1,195 higher earnings · $4,924 lower annual net price

Earnings
$55,192
Debt
$15,000
Annual net price
$10,440
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

Not reported 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.

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