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California State University, Chico

⌖ Chico, CA · 64 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff

−$62,830 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.

13.6 yrsModeled economic break-even
−26%Modeled 10-year ROI
$62,509Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$62,830at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$237,9200
2
4
6
8
−$62,83010
Years after graduationBreak-even: 13.6 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$8,472
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$21,072
Sticker price
Average net price$14,480
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$26,283
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$14,480Average net price / year
$26,283Cost of attendance
$62,509Median earnings · year 5 after completion
62.8%Completion rate
92.7%Admission rate
13,631Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

83thEarnings percentile
56thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$42,772Year 1
$65,228Year 4
$62,509Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Computer Science · Bachelor's Degree$127,4982Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Bachelor's Degree$117,5433Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$109,1614Construction Management · Bachelor's Degree$108,0215Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians · Bachelor's Degree$106,2256Engineering, Other · Bachelor's Degree$103,2727Computer Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$97,3458Mechanical Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$93,555

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in CA

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

Riverside, CA

University of California, Riverside

Annual net price
$14,304
Observed earnings · year 5
$63,411
Modeled 10-year ROI
-22%
Open college profile →Ukiah, CA

Ukiah Adult School

Annual net price
$14,343
Observed earnings · year 5
$60,957
Modeled 10-year ROI
-33%
Open college profile →Napa, CA

Napa Valley College

Annual net price
$14,644
Observed earnings · year 5
$60,424
Modeled 10-year ROI
-35%
Open college profile →Merced, CA

University of California, Merced

Annual net price
$11,983
Observed earnings · year 5
$62,884
Modeled 10-year ROI
-22%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree$127,498$20,000
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$117,543$20,125
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree$109,161Not available
Construction ManagementBachelor's Degree$108,021$19,314
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$106,225$19,802
Engineering, OtherBachelor's Degree$103,272$23,000
Computer EngineeringBachelor's Degree$97,345Not available
Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$93,555$24,354
Civil EngineeringBachelor's Degree$92,472$21,583
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$91,059$20,886
Engineering-Related FieldsBachelor's Degree$86,430$16,601
Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$85,612$17,250
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesMaster's Degree$81,397Not available
MathematicsBachelor's Degree$77,891$15,000
Psychology, GeneralMaster's Degree$75,000Not available
Microbiological Sciences and ImmunologyBachelor's Degree$74,888$24,572
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$72,651$18,000
Social WorkMaster's Degree$72,273Not available
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$71,726$18,750
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchBachelor's Degree$69,531$22,294
Geography and CartographyBachelor's Degree$69,500$19,250
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)$69,432Not available
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$69,303$19,573
Public AdministrationMaster's Degree$68,840Not available
Plant SciencesBachelor's Degree$68,629$15,000
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity StudiesBachelor's Degree$67,921$17,000
EconomicsBachelor's Degree$67,675$19,150
Agricultural Business and ManagementBachelor's Degree$65,198$11,250
Education, GeneralNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)$65,151Not available
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)$64,943Not available
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyBachelor's Degree$64,274$13,766
JournalismBachelor's Degree$63,358$18,750
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesBachelor's Degree$62,855$19,222
Agriculture, GeneralBachelor's Degree$61,369$15,000
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$61,293$20,423
Physiology, Pathology and Related SciencesBachelor's Degree$61,230$19,500
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyBachelor's Degree$60,367$23,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasBachelor's Degree$60,296$21,429
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure StudiesBachelor's Degree$59,765$18,179
Nutrition SciencesBachelor's Degree$59,146$19,272
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree$58,464$16,331
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$58,391$17,098
Social WorkBachelor's Degree$57,146$17,000
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsBachelor's Degree$56,144$17,200
Natural SciencesBachelor's Degree$55,102Not available
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesBachelor's Degree$55,008$17,500
Public AdministrationBachelor's Degree$54,714Not available
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$52,978$21,315
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$52,621$15,000
SociologyBachelor's Degree$52,323$16,049
International Relations and National Security StudiesBachelor's Degree$52,150$15,095
Foods, Nutrition, and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$51,491$19,312
Social Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$50,845$16,500
HistoryBachelor's Degree$49,351$17,783
English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$49,189$15,950
Animal SciencesBachelor's Degree$48,474$17,334
Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree$45,468$14,990
Design and Applied ArtsBachelor's Degree$44,629$19,047
AnthropologyBachelor's Degree$43,153$19,833
MusicBachelor's Degree$42,269$24,125
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$41,993$18,361
Area StudiesBachelor's Degree$41,818$16,375
Construction Engineering Technology/TechnicianBachelor's DegreeNot available$21,104
Public HealthBachelor's DegreeNot available$20,750

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.