Program Analysis
Graduates earn $36,045/yr, roughly in line with the $38,544 national median for Criminal Justice and Corrections. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The 16.9x 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 — 36% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $36,045 far exceeding the $15,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #63 ranking out of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs nationally puts California State University-Chico in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.
Earnings growth from $36,045 to $58,616 over five years (63% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.