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Accounting and Related Services at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
83 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
85
Optimistic
83
Base Case
80
Pessimistic
Earnings $60,606/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)
ROI 22.5x earnings multiple (9.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #26 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Accounting and Related Services graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $765K $726K $628K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 23.7x 22.5x 19.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.6x 9.1x 7.9x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 65% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 85 83 80

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$32,256
Out-of-state: $79,776 (9.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,352
-84% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,875
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$80,392
33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Chico's Accounting and Related Services graduates start at $60,606/yr — above the $53,724 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 22.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Accounting and Related Services programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Accounting and Related Services's typical career paths, with 62% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $16,875 in median debt clears quickly against $60,606 in annual earnings.

At #26 of 714 nationally, this is a top-5% Accounting and Related Services program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $60,606 to $80,392 over five years — a 33% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About California State University-Chico

A 94% acceptance rate means California State University-Chico is accessible to most applicants, serving 13,057 students in Chico, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 40% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Chico →

Top Career Paths

Financial managers $161,700/yr
Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr
Financial and investment analysts $101,350/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 714 schools offering Accounting and Related Services →

Accounting and Related Services at Other Schools

Georgetown University ($89,564) Washington and Lee University ($81,625) Santa Clara University ($78,417) Villanova University ($77,966) Lehigh University ($77,026) University of Notre Dame ($76,878) Fordham University ($76,473) Bucknell University ($75,776)

Other Majors at California State University-Chico

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($113,181) Construction Management ($89,075) Construction Engineering Technologies ($88,648) Computer Science ($81,021) Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($77,965) Engineering, Other ($74,204) Mechanical Engineering ($73,297) Civil Engineering ($72,350)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Accounting and Related Services trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting and Related Services at California State University-Chico?
This program scores 83/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Accounting and Related Services nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Accounting and Related Services careers?
With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $628,083 in decade earnings vs $765,252 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes California State University-Chico's Accounting and Related Services program stand out?
Ranked #26 of 714 programs nationally, California State University-Chico lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →