Economics bachelor's degree outcomes at California State University, Chico
Chico, CA · Public · Federal field 4506
Data scope
Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.
$15,011 below the national median for the same field and credential.
Debt pressure
28.3% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$11,688 / year
10-year scenario
−5% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$46,750
$8,000Annual price+$14,750
$14,000Current college-wide context−$9,250
$16,000Annual price−$17,250
$24,000Annual price−$49,250
$32,000Annual price−$81,250
$40,000Annual price−$113,250
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+95%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$37,432 → $73,084Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort40Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort46Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median30Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt medianNot availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
50Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers37Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count26Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,082Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$67,675$31,593 above the preliminary benchmark
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$14,480
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$19,150
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$67,675
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$203/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$37,432Year 1
$67,675Year 4
$73,084Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
3.6% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$5,640
Estimated loan payment$203
30borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$67,675 vs. $82,686
$15,011 below the national median for the same field and credential.
Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Managers, All Other$174,560 median wageCA estimate · 99,580 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$137,360 median wageCA estimate · 770 jobs · 25-1063+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEconomists$119,410 median wageCA estimate · 860 jobs · 19-3011+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$60,250 median wageCA estimate · 5,300 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSurvey Researchers$83,520 median wageCA estimate · 1,180 jobs · 19-3022-4.8% projected U.S. growth · 0.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeData Scientists$141,590 median wageCA estimate · 39,310 jobs · 15-2051+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeStatisticians$135,960 median wageCA estimate · 2,480 jobs · 15-2041+11.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$101,370 median wageCA estimate · 99,230 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMarket Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$94,700 median wageCA estimate · 119,070 jobs · 13-1161+7.0% projected U.S. growth · 82k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
Berkeley, CA
University of California, Berkeley
$67,375 higher earnings · $6,150 less debt · $999 lower annual net price