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Geography and Cartography at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,380/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (115,700 openings/yr)

ROI 20.8x earnings multiple (8.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #3 of 95 Geography and Cartography programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Geography and Cartography graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$693K	$671K	$596K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.5x	20.8x	18.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.7x	8.4x	7.5x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	50%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	62	61	59

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 (8.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,352

-84% less than sticker · See by income

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$72,207

79% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Chico's Geography and Cartography graduates start at $40,380/yr — above the $38,355 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 20.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Geography and Cartography programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Geography and Cartography's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

At #3 of 95 nationally, this is a top-5% Geography and Cartography program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $72,207 show a 79% jump from the $40,380 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About California State University-Chico

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

Geographers $97,200/yr

Geography teachers, postsecondary $86,730/yr

View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Geography and Cartography at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Chico

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Geography and Cartography at California State University-Chico?

A score of 61/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Geography and Cartography field.

Will AI replace Geography and Cartography careers?

With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $596,441 in decade earnings vs $693,031 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes California State University-Chico's Geography and Cartography program stand out?

Ranked #3 of 95 programs nationally, California State University-Chico lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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