Home › California State University-Chico › Engineering Studies

Engineering Studies at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Engineering, Other
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
74
Optimistic
73
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $74,204/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Medium (29,400 openings/yr)
ROI 25.8x earnings multiple (10.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #1 of 16 Engineering, Other programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Engineering Studies graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $866K $831K $719K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 26.8x 25.8x 22.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.8x 10.4x 9.0x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 49%
DegreeOutlook Score 74 73 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 (10.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,352
-84% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,500
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$95,485
29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Chico's Engineering Studies graduates start at $74,204/yr — above the $69,929 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 25.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Engineering Studies programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Engineering Studies's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 17% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $22,500 in median debt clears quickly against $74,204 in annual earnings.

Ranked #1 of 16 programs, California State University-Chico's Engineering Studies program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $74,204 to $95,485 over five years — a 29% 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, enrolling 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

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/yr
Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors $109,660/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 16 schools offering Engineering Studies →

Engineering Studies at Other Schools

University of Maryland-College Park ($80,931) Ohio State University-Main Campus ($78,734) SUNY Polytechnic Institute ($78,264) Massachusetts Maritime Academy ($77,421) Colorado State University Pueblo ($76,059) Northeastern University ($75,253) Purdue University-Main Campus ($74,668) Oregon State University ($71,549)

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) Mechanical Engineering ($73,297) Civil Engineering ($72,350) Engineering-Related Fields ($69,042)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Engineering Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Engineering Studies at California State University-Chico?
This program scores 73/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Engineering Studies nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Engineering Studies careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $718,995 in decade earnings vs $865,510 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →