Program Analysis
At $31,827/yr, Psychology graduates from California State University-Chico land near the $31,705 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Psychology programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Psychology's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $15,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #76 of 926 programs, California State University-Chico's Psychology program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.
Five-year earnings of $52,482 show a 65% jump from the $31,827 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.