Location: San Francisco, CA•In-State Tuition: $7,424•Out-of-State Tuition: $19,304•Admission Rate: 96%
Median Earnings (1yr)
$58,560
78th percentile
60th percentile in California
Median Debt
$22,374
5% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.38 ManageableSample: 27 graduates Limited data

Analysis

San Francisco State's International Business program earns graduates $58,560 in their first year—nearly $10,000 above the California median for this degree and ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. That's a meaningful premium for a school with a 96% admission rate and significant access for low-income students (41% receive Pell grants). With debt under $23,000, the 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about five months of pre-tax income.

The concern is earnings flatness: four years out, graduates make essentially the same amount they did at graduation. While the small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) means this pattern might not hold for future cohorts, it suggests the degree may lead to positions with limited advancement potential. Still, starting at nearly $60,000 in expensive San Francisco represents solid entry-level compensation, even if growth stalls.

For families seeking affordable access to international business careers, this program delivers above-average starting salaries at manageable debt levels. The lack of earnings growth warrants attention—students should investigate whether alumni typically change roles or industries to boost income over time—but the initial financial foundation is strong enough to make this a reasonable bet.

Where San Francisco State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all international business bachelors's programs nationally

San Francisco State UniversityOther international business programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How San Francisco State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

San Francisco State University earns $59k — 78th percentile among international business bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
San Francisco State University$58,560$58,508-0%
University of San Diego$48,463$76,666+58%
University of San Francisco$57,780$69,821+21%
San Diego State University$38,138$67,271+76%
Ashford University$71,369$61,843-13%

Compare to Similar Programs in California

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in California (21 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco$7,424$58,560$58,508$22,3740.38
Ashford UniversitySan Diego$13,160$71,369$61,843$27,1950.38
University of San FranciscoSan Francisco$58,222$57,780$69,821$25,0000.43
California State University-San MarcosSan Marcos$7,739$55,455—$15,9650.29
University of San DiegoSan Diego$56,444$48,463$76,666$19,1970.40
California State University-FullertonFullerton$7,073$45,419$49,269$21,5890.48
National Median—$49,890—$23,4720.47

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with international business graduates

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Business Operations Specialists, All Other

All business operations specialists not listed separately.

Business Continuity Planners

Develop, maintain, or implement business continuity and disaster recovery strategies and solutions, including risk assessments, business impact analyses, strategy selection, and documentation of business continuity and disaster recovery procedures. Plan, conduct, and debrief regular mock-disaster exercises to test the adequacy of existing plans and strategies, updating procedures and plans regularly. Act as a coordinator for continuity efforts after a disruption event.

Sustainability Specialists

Address organizational sustainability issues, such as waste stream management, green building practices, and green procurement plans.

Online Merchants

Conduct retail activities of businesses operating exclusively online. May perform duties such as preparing business strategies, buying merchandise, managing inventory, implementing marketing activities, fulfilling and shipping online orders, and balancing financial records.

Security Management Specialists

Conduct security assessments for organizations, and design security systems and processes. May specialize in areas such as physical security or the safety of employees and facilities.

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 Francisco State University, approximately 41% 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.