Home › California State University-Chico › Romance Languages & Literatures

Romance Languages & Literatures at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
37 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
37
Optimistic
37
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $22,917/yr (-34% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 18.4x earnings multiple (7.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #78 of 198 Romance Languages & Literatures programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Romance Languages & Literatures graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $609K $594K $533K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.9x 18.4x 16.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.6x 7.5x 6.7x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 37 37 34

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 (7.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,352
-84% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,200
9.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,893
144% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Chico's Romance Languages & Literatures graduates start at $22,917/yr, trailing the $34,637 national average by 34%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 18.4x 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 — 58% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $17,200 debt-to-$22,917 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #78 out of 198 programs, California State University-Chico's Romance Languages & Literatures offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $22,917 to $55,893 over five years (144% 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, enrolling 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

Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary $77,010/yr
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580/yr
Interpreters and translators $59,440/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 198 schools offering Romance Languages & Literatures →

Romance Languages & Literatures at Other Schools

Bentley University ($66,917) University of Rhode Island ($59,220) Southern Methodist University ($57,858) Columbia University in the City of New York ($54,327) Colgate University ($53,541) College of the Holy Cross ($52,210) Bucknell University ($51,120) Illinois State University ($49,448)

Other Majors at California State University-Chico

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($113,181) Construction Management ($89,075) Construction Engineering Technologies ($88,648) Computer Science ($81,021) Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($77,965) Engineering, Other ($74,204) Mechanical Engineering ($73,297) Civil Engineering ($72,350)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Romance Languages & Literatures trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Chico's Romance Languages & Literatures program score?
This program scores 37/100 — on the lower end for Romance Languages & Literatures. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Romance Languages & Literatures to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Romance Languages & Literatures careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 58% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Romance Languages & Literatures earnings lower at California State University-Chico?
Lower starting pay at California State University-Chico may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →