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Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $33,920/yr (1% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Very Small (1,100 openings/yr)

ROI 17.0x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #12 of 59 Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$558K	$549K	$499K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.3x	17.0x	15.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.0x	6.9x	6.3x
Probability of Field Employment	42%	36%	26%
DegreeOutlook Score	41	41	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 (6.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,352

-84% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,886

6.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$56,924

68% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Chico's Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies program produces graduates earning $33,920/yr — within striking distance of the $33,731 national average for this field.

The 17.0x 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 — 56% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $17,886 debt-to-$33,920 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #12 out of 59 programs, California State University-Chico's Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $33,920 to $56,924 over five years (68% 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

Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary $75,890/yr

View all 1 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Chico

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Chico's Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies program score?

This program scores 41/100 — on the lower end for Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does California State University-Chico rank so high for Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies?

The #12 ranking out of 59 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 →