Program Analysis
At $113,181 per year, Nursing graduates from California State University-Chico significantly outpace the $75,273 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.
The 34.6x 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 — 39% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $16,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
A #3 ranking out of 990 programs puts California State University-Chico in the top 1% for Nursing. By our composite measure, very few programs deliver stronger results.
Earnings growth is modest: $113,181 to $120,599 over five years (7% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.