Program Analysis
At $25,339/yr, Music graduates from California State University-Chico land near the $28,116 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Music programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Music's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $23,500 represents roughly 11 months of the $25,339 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #90 of 240 Music programs, California State University-Chico scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $39,537 show a 56% jump from the $25,339 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.