Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degree) at San Jose State University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$60,172

Est. from CA median (14 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$14,440

Est. from CA median (7 programs)

Analysis

California finance programs present wide variation, with reported outcomes ranging from around $65,000 at mid-tier programs to nearly $80,000 at Santa Clara. San Jose State likely falls somewhere in this middle band—peer programs in California suggest first-year earnings around $60,000, climbing to $84,000 by year four. That four-year figure is actual data for this program and represents strong progression, particularly given estimated debt of just $14,000. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24 is exceptionally manageable, well below both the state median of $15,663 and the national median of $23,332 for finance degrees.

What's particularly striking here is the combination of San Jose State's accessible admissions (80% acceptance rate) and its location in the heart of Silicon Valley's financial ecosystem. While the school may not match Santa Clara's starting salaries, comparable programs suggest graduates enter the field earning above the national median, with room to grow substantially. The modest debt load means financial flexibility early in your career—important in a field where professional certifications and networking often require additional investment.

The bottom line: Based on patterns from similar California finance programs, this degree appears positioned to deliver solid value, especially for students who can leverage Bay Area opportunities without taking on excessive debt. The four-year earnings data confirms graduates do advance, which matters more than any single starting salary estimate.

Where San Jose State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all finance and financial management services bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
San Jose State University	—	$84,385	—
Santa Clara University	$79,929	$106,444	+33%
University of San Francisco	$64,972	$98,950	+52%
Loyola Marymount University	$70,542	$90,660	+29%
University of San Diego	$64,819	$88,295	+36%

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Finance and Financial Management Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in California (25 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
San Jose State UniversitySan Jose	$7,992	$60,172*	$84,385	$14,440*	—
Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara	$59,241	$79,929*	$106,444	$16,201*	0.20
University of Phoenix-CaliforniaOntario	—	$70,963*	$59,017	$48,469*	0.68
Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles	$58,974	$70,542*	$90,660	$19,500*	0.28
Menlo CollegeAtherton	$51,070	$69,684*	—	$24,500*	0.35
University of San FranciscoSan Francisco	$58,222	$64,972*	$98,950	$24,347*	0.37
National Median	—	$53,590*	—	$23,332*	0.44

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with finance and financial management services graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

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

Personal Financial Advisors

Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

$102,140/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/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:

Insurance Underwriters

Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.

$79,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

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 Jose State University, approximately 35% 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 14 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.