Journalism at San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
45 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
45
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,788/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI 21.7x earnings multiple (8.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #20 of 178 Journalism programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $669K $644K $564K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.5x 21.7x 19.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.7x 8.3x 7.3x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 46% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 46 45 42

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,696
Out-of-state: $77,216 (8.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,528
-74% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
5.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,760
107% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,788 track close to the $34,417 national median for Journalism programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 21.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 64% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $15,000 in median debt against $31,788 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #20 out of 178 programs, San Francisco State University's Journalism program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $31,788 to $65,760 over five years (107% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University has a 96% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 20,033 students enrolled in San Francisco, CA. 41% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

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

Top Career Paths

Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr
Editors $75,260/yr
Writers and authors $72,270/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does San Francisco State University's Journalism program score?
This program scores 45/100 — on the lower end for Journalism. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Journalism to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Journalism careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 64% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does San Francisco State University rank so high for Journalism?
The #20 ranking out of 178 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →