Home › California State University-Chico › English

English at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,045/yr (-11% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)

Job Market Large (73,200 openings/yr)

ROI 16.6x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #111 of 493 English Language and Literature, General programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$541K	$534K	$489K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.8x	16.6x	15.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.8x	6.7x	6.1x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	41%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	36	35	31

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 (6.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,352

-84% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

6.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$49,955

85% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $27,045/yr, roughly in line with the $30,427 national median for English. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 16.6x 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 — 61% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $15,000 debt-to-$27,045 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #111 out of 493 programs, California State University-Chico's English program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $27,045 to $49,955 over five years (85% 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, 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

English language and literature teachers, postsecondary $78,270/yr

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580/yr

Proofreaders and copy markers $49,210/yr

View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

English 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 English program score?

This program scores 35/100 — on the lower end for English. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is English to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' English careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 61% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does California State University-Chico rank so high for English?

The #111 ranking out of 493 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →