Public Administration at San Diego State University

San Diego State's Public Administration program graduates earn significantly less than their California peers—$47,513 four years out versus a state median of $55,487. That's roughly $8,000 less annually than the typical California public administration graduate, ranking this program in just the 25th percentile statewide. When other Cal State campuses like Northridge and Dominguez Hills are delivering substantially higher returns, this performance gap is difficult to justify, especially for in-state students who have access to those alternatives.

The silver lining here is debt: at $15,000, graduates carry about half the state median and far less than the national average. This keeps the program from being a financial disaster—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 is manageable, meaning graduates should be able to handle loan payments without undue stress. The 16% earnings growth over four years also shows steady, if modest, career progression.

For families weighing this program, the calculation is straightforward. You're paying less in debt but accepting below-average California earnings in a field where other accessible programs deliver 40-60% higher salaries. If your student is set on SDSU for campus culture or location, they'll likely manage the debt fine—but from a pure ROI standpoint, other Cal State options offer considerably better outcomes in this major.