Animal Sciences at California State University-Chico
Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
47
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings
$33,387/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk
High (42% exposed)
Job Market
Large (99,000 openings/yr)
ROI
17.3x earnings multiple (7.0x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Animal Sciences graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $566K | $558K | $514K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 17.5x | 17.3x | 15.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 7.1x | 7.0x | 6.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 46% | 42% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 47 | 47 | 43 |
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 (7.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,606
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,684
70% growth from Year 1
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
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
$87,980/yr
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
$86,350/yr
Animal scientists
$79,120/yr
Compare & Explore
Animal Sciences 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
How does California State University-Chico's Animal Sciences program score?
This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for Animal Sciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Animal Sciences to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Animal Sciences careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 42% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does California State University-Chico rank so high for Animal Sciences?
The #13 ranking out of 81 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →