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Design and Applied Arts at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,573/yr (-19% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)

ROI 16.1x earnings multiple (6.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #139 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Design and Applied Arts graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$521K	$518K	$489K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.1x	16.1x	15.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.5x	6.5x	6.1x
Probability of Field Employment	63%	57%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	35	34	43

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 (6.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,352

-84% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,227

7.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$46,813

70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Chico's Design and Applied Arts graduates start at $27,573/yr, trailing the $33,862 national average by 19%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 16.1x 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 — 38% task exposure — and the 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $18,227 debt-to-$27,573 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #139 out of 290 programs, California State University-Chico's Design and Applied Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $27,573 to $46,813 over five years (70% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Chico

A 94% acceptance rate means California State University-Chico is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 13,057 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

Art directors $111,040/yr

Architecture teachers, postsecondary $101,480/yr

Special effects artists and animators $99,800/yr

View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Design and Applied Arts at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Chico

Consider the Trade Route?

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

How does California State University-Chico's Design and Applied Arts program score?

This program scores 34/100 — on the lower end for Design and Applied Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Design and Applied Arts to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Design and Applied Arts careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 38% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why are Design and Applied Arts 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 →