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Public Health at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $45,339/yr (17% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (179,000 openings/yr)

ROI 15.7x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #32 of 213 Public Health programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$508K	$507K	$474K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.7x	15.7x	14.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.4x	6.4x	5.9x
Probability of Field Employment	55%	52%	36%
DegreeOutlook Score	56	56	52

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 (6.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,352

-84% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,500

5.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $45,339/yr, edging above the $38,916 national average for Public Health — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Public Health programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Public Health's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

At $20,500 in median debt against $45,339 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #32 of 213 nationally, this is a top-5% Public Health program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

About California State University-Chico

California State University-Chico has a 94% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 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

Physicists $166,290/yr

Medical and health services managers $117,960/yr

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr

View all 13 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Public Health 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Health at California State University-Chico?

A score of 56/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Public Health field.

Will AI replace Public Health careers?

With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $473,899 in decade earnings vs $507,502 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes California State University-Chico's Public Health program stand out?

Ranked #32 of 213 programs nationally, California State University-Chico lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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