Psychology, General at San Diego Mesa College

San Diego, CA · Public · Associate Degree

enrolling 15,899 students in San Diego, CA.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $26,229/yr, roughly in line with the $27,272 national median for Psychology, General. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 189.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 49% of job tasks, producing a 40% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

A #2 ranking out of 36 Psychology, General programs nationally puts San Diego Mesa College in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $26,229 to $42,029 over five years (60% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful salary progression.

Psychology, General has a registered apprenticeship option through Health Information Management Privacy And Security Officer with a median wage of $136,550/yr — worth exploring for students who prefer structured on-the-job training.

62 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
54
Low End
62
Score
64
High End
Earnings $26,229/yr (-4% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (51% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$460K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
200.1x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$2,300
Out-of-state: $18,188
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$42,029
60% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Psychology, General graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Managers, all other $136,550 +4.5% 53%
Psychologists, all other $117,580 +4.3% 56%
Industrial-organizational psychologists $109,840 +6.3% 51%
Managers, all other
$136,550
+4.5% growth 53% AI-proof
Psychologists, all other
$117,580
+4.3% growth 56% AI-proof
Industrial-organizational psychologists
$109,840
+6.3% growth 51% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

About Psychology, General Careers

Your understanding of human behavior opens doors to diverse fields. You might begin as a social science research assistant, using statistical software to analyze survey data and prepare reports for a research team. With advanced education, you could become a clinical psychologist, spending your days in a private office providing one-on-one therapy to help clients navigate life’s challenges. Another common path is management, where you’ll use your insights to lead teams, mediate conflicts, and motivate employees to meet project goals.

Read the full Psychology, General career guide →

Compare & Explore

Psychology, General Overview

Psychology, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at San Diego Mesa College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Psychology, General at San Diego Mesa College?
At 62/100, San Diego Mesa College's Psychology, General program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
How vulnerable is Psychology, General to AI automation?
With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $274,413 in decade earnings vs $460,285 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is there demand for Psychology, General workers?
With approximately 125,000 annual openings across mapped careers, Psychology, General offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →