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Computer and Information Sciences, General at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
81 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
82
Optimistic
81
Base Case
75
Pessimistic
Earnings $49,967/yr (-20% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (69% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (338,800 openings/yr)
ROI 28.5x earnings multiple (11.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #151 of 443 Computer and Information Sciences, General programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $956K $918K $708K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 29.6x 28.5x 21.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.0x 11.5x 8.9x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 74% 42%
DegreeOutlook Score 82 81 75

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 (11.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,352
-84% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,972
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$90,685
81% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $49,967 place California State University-Chico below the $62,617 national median for Computer and Information Sciences, General — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 28.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 69% task exposure — and the 26% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $49,967 far exceeding the $18,972 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #151 out of 443 programs, California State University-Chico's Computer and Information Sciences, General offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $49,967 to $90,685 over five years (81% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

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

Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr
Computer and information research scientists $140,910/yr
Database architects $135,980/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 443 schools offering Computer and Information Sciences, General →

Computer and Information Sciences, General at Other Schools

University of Pennsylvania ($146,204) University of California-Los Angeles ($136,099) Yale University ($133,293) Rice University ($131,154) Northeastern University ($115,587) Northeastern University Professional Programs ($115,587) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($113,634) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($113,503)

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 Computer and Information Sciences, General 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

How does California State University-Chico's Computer and Information Sciences, General program score?
A score of 81/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. California State University-Chico's Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Computer and Information Sciences, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Computer and Information Sciences, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 69% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Computer and Information Sciences, General earnings lower at California State University-Chico?
Lower starting pay at California State University-Chico may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →