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Social Work at San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
69
Optimistic
69
Base Case
71
Pessimistic
Earnings $48,750/yr (33% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 21.7x earnings multiple (8.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #1 of 338 Social Work programs Top 1%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $645K $644K $601K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 21.7x 21.7x 20.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.4x 8.3x 7.8x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 69 69 71

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
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$66,675
37% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $48,750 put San Francisco State University's Social Work program 33% above the national median of $36,554 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

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 — 24% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

A #1 ranking out of 338 programs puts San Francisco State University in the top 1% for Social Work. By our composite measure, very few programs deliver stronger results.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $48,750 to $66,675 shows 37% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 20,033 students 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

Social and community service managers $78,240/yr
Social work teachers, postsecondary $76,210/yr
Social workers, all other $69,480/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 338 schools offering Social Work →

Social Work at Other Schools

University of North Dakota ($49,695) University of Alaska Fairbanks ($48,151) Seton Hall University ($47,734) Metropolitan State University ($47,637) Bemidji State University ($47,192) Viterbo University ($46,384) Southwest Minnesota State University ($46,368) University of the District of Columbia ($45,973)

Compare Social Work

San Francisco State University vs University of North Dakota → San Francisco State University vs Metropolitan State University → San Francisco State University vs Bemidji State University →

Other Majors at San Francisco State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($117,532) Mechanical Engineering ($72,647) Civil Engineering ($68,256) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($67,345) Finance and Financial Management Services ($62,778) Accounting and Related Services ($60,607) International Business ($58,560) Microbiological Sciences and Immunology ($56,071)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Social Work trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does San Francisco State University's Social Work program score?
This program scores 69/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Social Work graduates.
Why does San Francisco State University rank so high for Social Work?
The #1 ranking out of 338 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 →