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Philosophy at San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
26 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
26
Optimistic
26
Base Case
22
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,712/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,000 openings/yr)
ROI 12.9x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #51 of 77 Philosophy programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Philosophy graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $415K $426K $416K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.5x 12.9x 12.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.1x 5.3x 5.2x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 44% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 26 26 22

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$33,160
Out-of-state: $80,680 (5.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$64,696
-95% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
10.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $29,712/yr, Philosophy graduates from San Diego State University land near the $32,297 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Philosophy programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Philosophy's typical career paths, with 64% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a -0% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 10 months of the $29,712 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #51 of 77 Philosophy programs, San Diego State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About San Diego State University

A 34% acceptance rate puts San Diego State University in competitive admissions territory, one of the larger campuses at 33,654 students in San Diego, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at San Diego State University →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Mathematicians $121,680/yr
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary $79,350/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 77 schools offering Philosophy →

Philosophy at Other Schools

University of Pennsylvania ($73,053) Columbia University in the City of New York ($52,668) Boston College ($47,345) Utah Valley University ($43,699) CUNY Lehman College ($43,311) Southern Methodist University ($42,334) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($42,072) University of Washington-Bothell Campus ($42,072)

Other Majors at San Diego State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($100,221) Construction Engineering Technologies ($81,608) Computer Engineering ($76,812) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($75,061) Computer Science ($74,523) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($74,375) Civil Engineering ($73,584) Mechanical Engineering ($69,754)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Philosophy at San Diego State University?
A score of 26/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Philosophy. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Philosophy careers?
With 64% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $416,377 in decade earnings vs $414,985 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →