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Electrical Engineering Technology at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
70
Optimistic
69
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $77,965/yr (16% vs median)
AI Risk High (41% exposed)
Job Market Medium (24,100 openings/yr)
ROI 23.4x earnings multiple (9.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #1 of 46 Electrical Engineering Technologies programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Electrical Engineering Technology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $784K $755K $675K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 24.3x 23.4x 20.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.8x 9.5x 8.5x
Probability of Field Employment 55% 50% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 69 67

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 (9.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,352
-84% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,822
2.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$97,724
25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $77,965/yr, edging above the $67,106 national average for Electrical Engineering Technology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 23.4x 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 — 41% task exposure — and the 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $18,822 in median debt against $77,965 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #1 out of 46 programs, California State University-Chico's Electrical Engineering Technology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $77,965 to $97,724 shows 25% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About California State University-Chico

California State University-Chico has a 94% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 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

Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay $100,940/yr
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians $79,830/yr
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other $77,390/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 46 schools offering Electrical Engineering Technology →

Electrical Engineering Technology at Other Schools

University of Arkansas Grantham ($87,606) Excelsior University ($83,479) Wayne State University ($82,524) Oklahoma State University-Main Campus ($78,417) Texas A & M University-College Station ($78,185) Metropolitan State University of Denver ($75,966) Purdue University Northwest ($75,675) Rochester Institute of Technology ($75,227)

Other Majors at California State University-Chico

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($113,181) Construction Management ($89,075) Construction Engineering Technologies ($88,648) Computer Science ($81,021) Engineering, Other ($74,204) Mechanical Engineering ($73,297) Civil Engineering ($72,350) Engineering-Related Fields ($69,042)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Electrical Engineering Technology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Chico's Electrical Engineering Technology program score?
This program scores 69/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Electrical Engineering Technology graduates.
How vulnerable is Electrical Engineering Technology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Electrical Engineering Technology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 41% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does California State University-Chico rank so high for Electrical Engineering Technology?
The #1 ranking out of 46 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 →