Mathematics at San Francisco State University

San Francisco State's mathematics program sits in an interesting position: while it trails the national median by about $4,500 in first-year earnings, it outperforms 60% of California math programs—a meaningful distinction in a state where many students stay close to home for affordability. The $18,697 debt load is manageable, representing just five months of first-year income, and graduates see steady progression with earnings jumping 41% to $62,558 by year four.

The caveat here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates in this data, these numbers could shift substantially year to year. That said, SFSU serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (41% of the campus), and this program delivers a functional outcome—reasonable debt and growing earnings—even if it doesn't match the elite UC campuses or Cal Poly. The gap to Berkeley or UCSD narrows considerably by year four as SFSU grads gain experience.

For families weighing cost against outcomes, this represents solid value if your student isn't competing for spots at the state's top-tier programs. The debt won't be crushing, the trajectory points upward, and the program performs better than most California alternatives. Just understand you're working with limited data, and individual outcomes could vary more than usual.