Analysis
With debt of $18,875—lower than 95% of real estate programs nationwide—San Diego State positions students for a manageable financial start even as estimated first-year earnings trail more established California programs. Similar real estate bachelor's programs in California suggest earnings around $51,667, which falls below USC's robust $98,763 but aligns closely with USD's $54,073, indicating SDSU graduates likely enter a competitive but not top-tier segment of California's real estate market.
The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 means graduates could realistically pay off loans within a year of focused repayment, a genuine advantage when breaking into real estate's commission-heavy early years. However, the earnings estimate comes from just four comparable California programs, and California State University-Northridge's significantly lower $35,879 shows how widely outcomes can vary even within the CSU system. Real estate careers depend heavily on local market conditions, networking, and licensing—factors that estimated data can't capture for SDSU specifically.
For families, the low debt load matters more here than the earnings uncertainty. Your child won't be buried in payments while building a client base, but don't assume SDSU's location in San Diego's hot real estate market automatically translates to the higher earnings seen at USC or USD. Ask the department directly about graduate placement rates, broker partnerships, and licensing support—those practical outcomes will tell you more about this program's value than statewide estimates can.
Where San Diego State University Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all real estate bachelors's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in California
Real Estate bachelors's programs at peer institutions in California (7 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 San Diego State UniversitySan Diego | $8,290 | $51,667* | — | $18,875 | — |
 University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles | $68,237 | $98,763* | — | $19,500 | 0.20 |
 University of San DiegoSan Diego | $56,444 | $54,073* | $93,940 | $21,000 | 0.39 |
 Ashford UniversitySan Diego | $13,160 | $49,261* | $43,375 | $37,312 | 0.76 |
 California State University-NorthridgeNorthridge | $7,095 | $35,879* | — | — | — |
| National Median | — | $54,665* | — | $21,126 | 0.39 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with real estate graduates
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
Real Estate Brokers
Real Estate Sales Agents
Appraisers of Personal and Business Property
Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At San Diego State University, approximately 31% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 4 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.