Home › California State University-Chico › Business Administration

Business Administration at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
76 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
76
Optimistic
76
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,145/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 20.9x earnings multiple (8.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #61 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business Administration graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $692K $675K $595K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 21.4x 20.9x 18.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.7x 8.5x 7.5x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 76 76 70

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 (8.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,352
-84% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,750
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$79,303
72% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $46,145/yr, roughly in line with the $46,892 national median for Business Administration. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

With a 20.9x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 14% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Business Administration career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

With first-year pay of $46,145 far exceeding the $16,750 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

California State University-Chico ranks #61 among 1,169 Business Administration programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The $46,145-to-$79,303 earnings arc over five years reflects a 72% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.

About California State University-Chico

California State University-Chico accepts 94% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, 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

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
View all 42 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 1169 schools offering Business Administration →

Business Administration at Other Schools

Manhattan College ($113,777) Bismarck State College ($100,668) Maine Maritime Academy ($98,743) Carnegie Mellon University ($95,891) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($93,674) University of Pennsylvania ($91,443) University of California-Berkeley ($90,008) Emory University ($85,682)

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)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Business Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 76/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Business Administration at California State University-Chico?
At 76/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Business Administration at California State University-Chico?
The 47% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is California State University-Chico one of the best schools for Business Administration?
Among 1,169 Business Administration programs, California State University-Chico's #61 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →