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Engineering, Other at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $74,204/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Medium (29,400 openings/yr)

ROI 25.8x earnings multiple (10.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #1 of 16 Engineering, Other programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$866K	$831K	$719K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	26.8x	25.8x	22.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.8x	10.4x	9.0x
Probability of Field Employment	73%	66%	49%
DegreeOutlook Score	74	73	70

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 (10.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,352

-84% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,500

3.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$95,485

29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Chico's Engineering, Other graduates start at $74,204/yr — above the $69,929 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 25.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Engineering, Other programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Engineering, Other's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 17% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $22,500 in median debt clears quickly against $74,204 in annual earnings.

Ranked #1 of 16 programs, California State University-Chico's Engineering, Other program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $74,204 to $95,485 over five years — a 29% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About California State University-Chico

A 94% acceptance rate means California State University-Chico is accessible to most applicants, 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

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr

Engineers, all other $117,750/yr

Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors $109,660/yr

View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Engineering, Other at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Chico

Explore the Trade Alternative

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Engineering, Other at California State University-Chico?

This program scores 73/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Engineering, Other nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Engineering, Other careers?

With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $718,995 in decade earnings vs $865,510 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →