California State University-Chico

Chico, CA csuchico.edu 13,057 students

California State University, Chico is located in the northern Sacramento Valley, offering a traditional campus with brick buildings and tree-lined pathways. The university is known for its strong sense of community and active student body, with popular majors in business, agriculture, and communication. Chico State is distinctive for its commitment to sustainability and civic engagement, as well as its close ties to the surrounding city of Chico. It is also recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

Programs

Analyzed in dataset

Earnings

$43,284

Average graduate, 1 yr after

Outlook

53/100

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

Tuition

$8,064

In-state sticker price

Out-of-state: $19,944/yr

Financial Aid

The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. Chico State's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 40% of students receive Pell Grants; 33% take federal loans.

Net Price by Family Income

Academic Year 2025

Income Bracket	Avg Net Price	4-Year Net Cost
$0 – $30K	$10,045	$40,180
$30K – $48K	$10,612	$42,448
$48K – $75K	$13,937	$55,748
$75K – $110K	$18,380	$73,520
$110K+	$23,572	$94,288
Sticker price (no aid)	$8,064	$32,256

Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships, by reported family-income bracket. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.

Programs at Chico State

51 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.

Degree Program	DW Score	1-yr Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
Nursing Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Compare across schools →	91	$113,181/yr	High	36.4x
Computer Science Compare across schools →	89	$81,021/yr	Very High	37.8x
Construction Management Compare across schools →	86	$89,075/yr	High	35.2x
Accounting Accounting and Related Services Compare across schools →	83	$60,606/yr	Very High	23.9x
Information Sciences Computer and Information Sciences, General Compare across schools →	81	$49,967/yr	Very High	27.1x
Mechanical Engineering Compare across schools →	76	$73,297/yr	Very High	30.8x
Civil Engineering Compare across schools →	76	$72,350/yr	High	30.5x
Business Administration Business Administration, Management and Operations Compare across schools →	76	$46,145/yr	High	23.6x
Engineering-Related Fields Compare across schools →	74	$69,042/yr	High	27.7x
Engineering Studies Engineering, Other Compare across schools →	73	$74,204/yr	High	28.6x
Electrical Engineering Technology Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians Compare across schools →	69	$77,965/yr	High	29.3x
Agricultural Business Agricultural Business and Management Compare across schools →	69	$47,937/yr	High	20.1x
Microbiology & Immunology Microbiological Sciences and Immunology Compare across schools →	66	$49,068/yr	High	18.9x
Economics Compare across schools →	64	$37,432/yr	Very High	21.7x
Construction Engineering Technologies Compare across schools →	62	$88,648/yr	Very High	26.5x
Political Science Political Science and Government Compare across schools →	62	$41,893/yr	Very High	18.4x
Geography and Cartography Compare across schools →	61	$40,380/yr	High	21.4x
Criminal Justice Criminal Justice and Corrections Compare across schools →	61	$36,045/yr	Moderate	17.2x
Plant Sciences Compare across schools →	60	$43,944/yr	High	20.9x
Public Health Compare across schools →	56	$45,339/yr	High	13.1x
Nutrition & Food Science Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services Compare across schools →	55	$31,673/yr	High	18.3x
Mathematics Compare across schools →	54	$38,212/yr	Very High	18.4x
Social Sciences Social Sciences, General Compare across schools →	54	$36,382/yr	High	14.7x
Biology Biology, General Compare across schools →	53	$37,120/yr	High	18.1x
Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools →	51	$38,421/yr	High	17.4x
International Relations International Relations and National Security Studies Compare across schools →	50	$39,060/yr	High	15.0x
Social Work Compare across schools →	50	$36,840/yr	Moderate	16.1x
Health Sciences Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General Compare across schools →	47	$40,057/yr	High	16.5x
Animal Sciences Compare across schools →	47	$33,387/yr	High	16.6x
Sociology Compare across schools →	45	$36,992/yr	High	13.6x
Psychology Psychology, General Compare across schools →	45	$31,827/yr	High	15.3x
Human Development & Family Studies Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Compare across schools →	45	$30,441/yr	High	13.4x
Biochemistry Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Compare across schools →	44	$42,886/yr	High	12.3x
Journalism Compare across schools →	44	$35,668/yr	Very High	16.4x
Natural Resources & Conservation Research Natural Resources Conservation and Research Compare across schools →	44	$33,758/yr	High	17.1x
History Compare across schools →	43	$30,697/yr	High	13.3x
Parks & Recreation Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies Compare across schools →	41	$33,920/yr	Very High	16.6x
Health & Physical Education Health and Physical Education/Fitness Compare across schools →	40	$28,236/yr	Moderate	13.5x
Anthropology Compare across schools →	40	$27,856/yr	High	14.1x
Communication Disorders Communication Disorders Sciences and Services Compare across schools →	39	$29,297/yr	High	18.2x
Subject-Area Teaching Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Compare across schools →	39	$24,427/yr	High	6.6x
Physiology Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences Compare across schools →	38	$25,952/yr	High	17.4x
Romance Languages Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Compare across schools →	37	$22,917/yr	Very High	16.3x
English English Language and Literature, General Compare across schools →	35	$27,045/yr	Very High	14.5x
Design Design and Applied Arts Compare across schools →	34	$27,573/yr	High	13.5x
Liberal Arts & Humanities Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Compare across schools →	34	$27,196/yr	Low	16.1x
Fine Arts Fine and Studio Arts Compare across schools →	34	$22,628/yr	Moderate	12.9x
Music Compare across schools →	32	$25,339/yr	High	11.3x
Area Studies Compare across schools →	26	$23,149/yr	Very High	13.5x
Nutrition Sciences Compare across schools →	25	$25,490/yr	High	6.9x
Multicultural Studies Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies Compare across schools →	22	$25,525/yr	Very High	6.9x