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Anthropology at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,856/yr (-1% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (121,600 openings/yr)

ROI 16.2x earnings multiple (6.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #31 of 178 Anthropology programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Anthropology graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$525K	$522K	$483K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.3x	16.2x	15.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.6x	6.5x	6.1x
Probability of Field Employment	44%	41%	30%
DegreeOutlook Score	40	40	36

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 (6.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,352

-84% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,263

7.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$48,693

75% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $27,856/yr, Anthropology graduates from California State University-Chico land near the $28,155 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 16.2x 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 — 47% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $18,263 debt-to-$27,856 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #31 out of 178 programs, California State University-Chico's Anthropology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $27,856 to $48,693 over five years (75% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Chico

With 94% of applicants admitted, California State University-Chico prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 13,057 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

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590/yr

Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary $95,770/yr

View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Anthropology 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 Anthropology program score?

This program scores 40/100 — on the lower end for Anthropology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Anthropology to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Anthropology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does California State University-Chico rank so high for Anthropology?

The #31 ranking out of 178 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 →