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California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Visit Website

California State University, Chico is located in the northern Sacramento Valley, offering a traditional campus with brick buildings and tree-lined pathways. The university is known for its strong sense of community and active student body, with popular majors in business, agriculture, and communication. Chico State is distinctive for its commitment to sustainability and civic engagement, as well as its close ties to the surrounding city of Chico. It is also recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

Programs Analyzed

Avg Grad Earnings

$43,284/yr

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

53/100

Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$8,064/yr

Out-of-state: $19,944/yr

Financial Aid & Net Price

What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by family income. 40% of students receive Pell Grants and 33% take federal loans.

Family Income	Avg Net Price/yr	4-Year Net Cost	Net-Price ROI
$0 – $30K	$10,045	$40,180	10.8x
$30K – $48K	$10,612	$42,448	10.2x
$48K – $75K	$13,937	$55,748	7.8x
$75K – $110K	$18,380	$73,520	5.9x
$110K+	$23,572	$94,288	4.6x
Sticker price (no aid)	$8,064	$32,256	13.4x

Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships. ROI = average 10-year graduate earnings ÷ 4-year net cost. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.

All Programs at California State University-Chico

51 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for full AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.

Program	DW Score	Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Compare across schools	91	$113,181/yr	High	36.4x
Computer Science Compare across schools	89	$81,021/yr	Very High	37.8x
Construction Management Compare across schools	86	$89,075/yr	High	35.2x
Accounting and Related Services Compare across schools	83	$60,606/yr	Very High	23.9x
Computer and Information Sciences, General Compare across schools	81	$49,967/yr	Very High	27.1x
Mechanical Engineering Compare across schools	76	$73,297/yr	Very High	30.8x
Civil Engineering Compare across schools	76	$72,350/yr	High	30.5x
Business Administration Compare across schools	76	$46,145/yr	High	23.6x
Engineering-Related Fields Compare across schools	74	$69,042/yr	High	27.7x
Engineering, Other Compare across schools	73	$74,204/yr	High	28.6x
Electrical Engineering Technologies Compare across schools	69	$77,965/yr	High	29.3x
Agricultural Business and Management Compare across schools	69	$47,937/yr	High	20.1x
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology Compare across schools	66	$49,068/yr	High	18.9x
Economics Compare across schools	64	$37,432/yr	Very High	21.7x
Construction Engineering Technologies Compare across schools	62	$88,648/yr	Very High	26.5x
Political Science and Government Compare across schools	62	$41,893/yr	Very High	18.4x
Geography and Cartography Compare across schools	61	$40,380/yr	High	21.4x
Criminal Justice and Corrections Compare across schools	61	$36,045/yr	Moderate	17.2x
Plant Sciences Compare across schools	60	$43,944/yr	High	20.9x
Public Health Compare across schools	56	$45,339/yr	High	13.1x
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services Compare across schools	55	$31,673/yr	High	18.3x
Mathematics Compare across schools	54	$38,212/yr	Very High	18.4x
Social Sciences, General Compare across schools	54	$36,382/yr	High	14.7x
Biology, General Compare across schools	53	$37,120/yr	High	18.1x
Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools	51	$38,421/yr	High	17.4x
International Relations Compare across schools	50	$39,060/yr	High	15.0x
Social Work Compare across schools	50	$36,840/yr	Moderate	16.1x
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences Compare across schools	47	$40,057/yr	High	16.5x
Animal Sciences Compare across schools	47	$33,387/yr	High	16.6x
Sociology Compare across schools	45	$36,992/yr	High	13.6x
Psychology, General Compare across schools	45	$31,827/yr	High	15.3x
Human Development & Family Studies Compare across schools	45	$30,441/yr	High	13.4x
Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology Compare across schools	44	$42,886/yr	High	12.3x
Journalism Compare across schools	44	$35,668/yr	Very High	16.4x
Natural Resources Conservation and Research Compare across schools	44	$33,758/yr	High	17.1x
History Compare across schools	43	$30,697/yr	High	13.3x
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies Compare across schools	41	$33,920/yr	Very High	16.6x
Health and Physical Education/Fitness Compare across schools	40	$28,236/yr	Moderate	13.5x
Anthropology Compare across schools	40	$27,856/yr	High	14.1x
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services Compare across schools	39	$29,297/yr	High	18.2x
Teacher Education Compare across schools	39	$24,427/yr	High	6.6x
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences Compare across schools	38	$25,952/yr	High	17.4x
Romance Languages & Literatures Compare across schools	37	$22,917/yr	Very High	16.3x
English Language and Literature, General Compare across schools	35	$27,045/yr	Very High	14.5x
Design and Applied Arts Compare across schools	34	$27,573/yr	High	13.5x
Liberal Arts and Sciences Compare across schools	34	$27,196/yr	Low	16.1x
Fine and Studio Arts Compare across schools	34	$22,628/yr	Moderate	12.9x
Music Compare across schools	32	$25,339/yr	High	11.3x
Area Studies Compare across schools	26	$23,149/yr	Very High	13.5x
Nutrition Sciences Compare across schools	25	$25,490/yr	High	6.9x
Intercultural/Multicultural Compare across schools	22	$25,525/yr	Very High	6.9x

Compare any program at California State University-Chico with another school. Use the comparison tool →

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →