Physics at San Diego State University

Physics programs in California show enormous variation in outcomes—from $57,000+ at some CSUs to figures hovering near $50,000 at others. For San Diego State, where both earnings and debt figures are estimates drawn from peer institutions, similar California physics programs suggest first-year earnings around $50,200 with debt near $17,900. That's a manageable 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio, well below the national median debt of $23,300 for physics degrees.

The challenge here is the gap between SDSU's estimated outcomes and what some other California State schools actually report. Cal Poly Pomona's physics graduates earn $64,000 in their first year—nearly $14,000 more than the state median. Even nearby CSU San Marcos reports $56,000. Whether SDSU's actual outcomes land closer to the state average or push toward the higher-performing CSU campuses makes a material difference in return on investment, particularly since physics graduates often need graduate school for advanced career paths.

Without program-specific data, you're betting on SDSU tracking with typical California physics programs rather than outperforming or underperforming them. The debt estimate looks reasonable, but the earnings variability among comparable schools—ranging from $50,000 to $64,000—means you should press the department for graduate outcomes data before committing. If your student plans to stop at the bachelor's level, those first-year earnings matter considerably.