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Sociology at San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,763/yr (19% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)

ROI 19.3x earnings multiple (7.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #1 of 414 Sociology programs Top 1%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$580K	$572K	$525K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	19.5x	19.3x	17.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.5x	7.4x	6.8x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	44%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	58	57	54

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 (7.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$51,528

-74% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

4.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,399

51% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $40,763/yr, edging above the $34,392 national average for Sociology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 19.3x 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 — 42% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $15,000 in median debt against $40,763 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

A #1 ranking out of 414 programs puts San Francisco State University in the top 1% for Sociology. By our composite measure, very few programs deliver stronger results.

Earnings growth from $40,763 to $61,399 over five years (51% 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, 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

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Sociologists $101,690/yr

Sociology teachers, postsecondary $82,540/yr

View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Sociology at Other Schools

Compare Sociology

Other Majors at San Francisco State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does San Francisco State University's Sociology program score?

This program scores 57/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Sociology graduates.

How vulnerable is Sociology to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Sociology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 42% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does San Francisco State University rank so high for Sociology?

The #1 ranking out of 414 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 →