Nursing (RN/BSN): San Diego State University vs San Francisco State University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA
In-State
31.1x
$33,160 tuition
43.4x
$29,696 tuition
Out-of-State
12.8x
$80,680 tuition
16.7x
$77,216 tuition
$100,221/yr starting · Public
$117,532/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

San Diego State University San Francisco State University
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 31.1x 43.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.8x 16.7x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $33,160 $29,696
Year 1 Earnings $100,221 $117,532
10-Year Earnings $1,032K $1,289K
Median Debt $17,375 $15,233
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 2.1 months 1.6 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 91/100 91/100
Acceptance Rate 34.4% 96.2%

Both programs have high AI automation risk (39% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Nursing (RN/BSN) graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Nursing (RN/BSN) graduates.

San Diego State University San Francisco State University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $33,160 $29,696
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $80,680 $77,216
10-Year Projected Earnings $1,032K $1,289K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 31.1x 43.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.8x 16.7x
5-Year Salary Growth +10% +23%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Nursing (RN/BSN) (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

San Diego State University San Francisco State University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $1,114K $1,032K $801K $1,498K $1,289K $939K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 33.6x 31.1x 24.2x 50.5x 43.4x 31.6x
DegreeWorth Score 91 91 85 92 91 85

For the full AI analysis of Nursing (RN/BSN) career paths, see the San Diego State University or San Francisco State University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Nursing (RN/BSN) graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$3,464
San Francisco State University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$17,311/yr
San Francisco State University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
31.1x / 43.4x
Out-of-state: 12.8x / 16.7x

Career Paths

Nursing (RN/BSN) graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Nurse anesthetists $223,210 2,700 +8.6% 17%
Nurse practitioners $129,210 29,500 +40.1% 48%
Nurse midwives $128,790 500 +11.1% 39%
Medical and health services managers $117,960 62,100 +23.2% 43%
Registered nurses $93,600 189,100 +4.9% 45%
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary $79,940 8,600 +16.8% 40%

Explore Each Program

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Nursing (RN/BSN) Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Nursing (RN/BSN): San Diego State University or San Francisco State University?
San Diego State University scores 91/100 while San Francisco State University scores 91/100. San Francisco State University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Nursing (RN/BSN)?
San Diego State University has an in-state earnings multiple of 31.1x vs San Francisco State University's 43.4x. That means San Francisco State University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do San Diego State University and San Francisco State University compare on Nursing (RN/BSN) earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $100,221 at San Diego State University vs $117,532 at San Francisco State University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $1,031,786 vs $1,288,716 — a difference of $256,930.
How much does Nursing (RN/BSN) cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $33,160 at San Diego State University and $29,696 at San Francisco State University. Median debt at graduation is $17,375 vs $15,233. Both programs lead to the same Nursing (RN/BSN) career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.