Nursing (RN/BSN): California State University-Chico vs California State University-San Bernardino

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
35.6x
$32,256 tuition
32.5x
$30,700 tuition
Out-of-State
14.4x
$79,776 tuition
12.7x
$78,220 tuition
$113,181/yr starting · Public
$93,142/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

California State University-Chico California State University-San Bernardino
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 35.6x 32.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 14.4x 12.7x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $32,256 $30,700
Year 1 Earnings $113,181 $93,142
10-Year Earnings $1,148K $996K
Median Debt $16,500 $17,963
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 1.7 months 2.3 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 91/100 91/100
Acceptance Rate 93.7% 98.2%

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.

California State University-Chico California State University-San Bernardino
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $32,256 $30,700
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $79,776 $78,220
10-Year Projected Earnings $1,148K $996K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 35.6x 32.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 14.4x 12.7x
5-Year Salary Growth +7% +18%

"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.

California State University-Chico California State University-San Bernardino
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $1,217K $1,148K $904K $1,126K $996K $744K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 37.7x 35.6x 28.0x 36.7x 32.5x 24.2x
DegreeWorth Score 91 91 85 91 91 85

For the full AI analysis of Nursing (RN/BSN) career paths, see the California State University-Chico or California State University-San Bernardino program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

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

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$1,556
California State University-San Bernardino saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$20,039/yr
California State University-Chico grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
35.6x / 32.5x
Out-of-state: 14.4x / 12.7x

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

More Nursing (RN/BSN) Comparisons

Nursing (RN/BSN) Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Nursing (RN/BSN): California State University-Chico or California State University-San Bernardino?
California State University-Chico scores 91/100 while California State University-San Bernardino scores 91/100. California State University-San Bernardino has significantly lower tuition, which drives its competitive ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Nursing (RN/BSN)?
California State University-Chico has an in-state earnings multiple of 35.6x vs California State University-San Bernardino's 32.5x. That means California State University-Chico grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do California State University-Chico and California State University-San Bernardino compare on Nursing (RN/BSN) earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $113,181 at California State University-Chico vs $93,142 at California State University-San Bernardino. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $1,147,572 vs $996,419 — a difference of $151,153.
How much does Nursing (RN/BSN) cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $32,256 at California State University-Chico and $30,700 at California State University-San Bernardino. Median debt at graduation is $16,500 vs $17,963. 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.