History · San Diego State University
How much do San Diego State University History graduates earn?
San Diego State University's bachelor's graduates in History earned a median $57,861 four years after graduating, 14% above the $50,680 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $38,203; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $13,881 in federal loans at this college (about $147 a month on a 10-year plan).
- Median earnings, 4 years after:
- $57,861
- National median, same program:
- $50,680
- Federal debt borrowed at this college (median):
- $13,881
- Monthly payment, 10-year plan:
- $147
San Diego State University, bachelor's in History. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. College Scorecard, 10 June 2026.
Quick answers
- What do History graduates of San Diego State University earn?
- San Diego State University's bachelor's graduates in History earned a median $57,861 four years after graduating (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
- How much federal debt do History graduates of San Diego State University have?
- Graduates who borrowed took out a median $13,881 in federal loans at San Diego State University (College Scorecard, graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20).
- How does San Diego State University compare with the national median for History?
- $57,861 is 14% above the $50,680 national median for bachelor's programs in the same field (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
- How does San Diego State University compare with other California History programs?
- It is 4% above the $55,797 earned by graduates of the typical California bachelor's program in the field (27 programs, College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
- Is a History degree from San Diego State University worth it?
- Federal data cannot decide that for you, but it puts the figures side by side: San Diego State University's bachelor's graduates in History earned a median $57,861 four years after graduating (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23), and those who borrowed took out a median $13,881 in federal loans there, about $147 a month on a 10-year plan, roughly 3% of the median graduate's monthly earnings before tax (College Scorecard, graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20).
History at San Diego State University, by credential
One credential level has federal figures. Federal program group: History (CIP 54.01), which includes its related specialties.
| Credential | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings, 1 yr after | Earnings, 4 yrs after | vs national | Debt borrowed at this college | Total debt incl. other colleges | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 148 | $38,203 | $57,861 | +14% | $13,881 | $13,881 | $147/mo |
The one-year and four-year figures describe different graduating classes (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21 and 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23) in different dollars, so the gap between them is not one class's pay growth. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure because too few graduates were measured.
What the two debt figures mean
Federal debt borrowed at this college: the median of the federal loans (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS) that graduates who borrowed took out at this college.
Total federal debt, including other colleges attended: the same graduates' federal loans from every college they attended, counting only loans at the same level as this credential (undergraduate loans for an undergraduate credential, graduate loans for a graduate one).
Neither figure includes Parent PLUS loans, private loans or accrued interest. The two differ most for transfer students and for degree-completion programs such as RN-to-BSN. Monthly payment is for the debt borrowed at this college. Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study data documentation (September 2025), "Cumulative loan debt".
Cite this data
- Statistic
- San Diego State University's bachelor's graduates in History earned a median $57,861 four years after graduating, against a national median of $50,680 for the same program and credential.
- Data period
- Graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19 who received federal aid, worked and were not enrolled; earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars (50 graduates measured).
- Source
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data (release of 10 June 2026)
- Page
- https://campuspin.com/schools/san-diego-state-university/programs/history
- Suggested citation
- CampusPin (2026). San Diego State University History: graduate earnings and debt. Data: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study, 10 June 2026. https://campuspin.com/schools/san-diego-state-university/programs/history
Or paste these figures into your page as a small table (departments, admissions, counselors)
Plain HTML with no script and no tracking: each credential's figure with its period and source, and one link back to this page.
How does San Diego State University compare with other California History programs?
Across the 27 California bachelor's programs in History with a federal earnings figure, the typical program's graduates earned $55,797; San Diego State University's $57,861 is 4% above that.
| College (bachelor's) | Earnings, 4 yrs after | 1 yr after (later class) | Debt borrowed at this college |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California | $79,940 | $36,876 | $12,138 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | $66,518 | $31,540 | $15,833 |
| California State University-East Bay | $65,217 | $31,059 | $20,000 |
| University of California, Berkeley | $64,755 | $28,849 | $13,034 |
| University of California-San Diego | $61,745 | $21,713 | $16,756 |
| University of California-Santa Cruz | $60,519 | $33,081 | $18,100 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | $59,555 | $28,116 | $13,500 |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | $59,342 | $29,749 | $14,282 |
| San Francisco State University | $58,717 | $28,718 | $15,000 |
| San Diego State University (this college) | $57,861 | $38,203 | $13,881 |
The 10 highest of 27 California programs, ordered by one federal measure (median earnings four years after graduating), not a ranking of program quality. Only programs with at least 30 graduates in the earnings cohort are listed.
Every History program in California. Compare History programs and share the result
Questions about History at San Diego State University
- How much do San Diego State University History graduates earn?
- San Diego State University's bachelor's graduates in History earned a median $57,861 four years after graduating, 14% above the $50,680 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $38,203; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $13,881 in federal loans at this college (about $147 a month on a 10-year plan).
- How much student debt do San Diego State University History graduates have?
- San Diego State University's bachelor's graduates in History who borrowed took out a median $13,881 in federal loans at San Diego State University, about $147 a month on a standard 10-year plan (graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20, College Scorecard). Neither figure includes Parent PLUS loans, private loans or accrued interest. The two differ most for transfer students and for degree-completion programs such as RN-to-BSN.
- How does San Diego State University's History program compare with others in California?
- Across the 27 California bachelor's programs in History with a federal earnings figure, the typical program's graduates earned $55,797; San Diego State University's $57,861 is 4% above that.
Keep going
- San Diego State University: cost, admissions and every program
- History major guide: what it pays nationally
- Same degree, different paycheck: how much the college matters
- What does History pay at other colleges?
Jobs History graduates often go into
- Lawyers: pay in California
- Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education: pay in California
- Editors: pay in California
From the Historymajor guide. Graduates spread across many jobs; these pay figures are for everyone in the job, not for this program's graduates.
Other programs at San Diego State University with graduate earnings
- Conservation Science
- Communications
- Computer Science
- Special Education
- Aerospace Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- English & Literature
- Biology
- Applied Mathematics
- Statistics
- Chemistry
- Geology
- Psychology
- Criminal Justice
- Public Administration
- Social Work
- Anthropology
- Economics
- International Relations
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Theater Arts
- Music
- Health Sciences
- Public Health
- Nursing
- Business Administration
- Accounting
- Finance
- Hospitality Management
- International Business
- Marketing
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Earnings reflect who enrolls, where graduates live and the jobs they take, as well as the program itself. Download every program (CSV).
Data sources & methodology
Figures on this page come from the Department of Education's College Scorecard field-of-study file, matched to San Diego State University by its federal UNITID.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
Program-level median earnings one and four years after completing, and median federal loan debt at completion, by institution, 4-digit CIP field and credential level.
College Scorecard, Field of Study data documentation
How the field-of-study cohorts are built, which graduates are counted, and how small cells are suppressed and perturbed for privacy.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (10 June 2026). San Diego State University History: graduate earnings and debt. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/san-diego-state-university/programs/history