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Health Sciences at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
46
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,057/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk High (43% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,700 openings/yr)
ROI 17.1x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #20 of 156 Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $555K $552K $509K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.2x 17.1x 15.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.0x 6.9x 6.4x
Probability of Field Employment 55% 52% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 47 46

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 (6.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,352
-84% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,331
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,376
41% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $40,057 at California State University-Chico come in 10% above the national median of $36,567 for Health Sciences programs.

The 17.1x 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 — 43% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $40,057 far exceeding the $19,331 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #20 out of 156 programs, California State University-Chico's Health Sciences program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $40,057 to $56,376 shows 41% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About California State University-Chico

California State University-Chico accepts 94% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 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

Health education specialists $63,000/yr
Community health workers $51,030/yr
View all 2 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 156 schools offering Health Sciences →

Health Sciences at Other Schools

Touro University ($98,520) Seattle Central College ($71,275) Southern New Hampshire University ($66,407) Mercy College of Ohio ($65,046) Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($59,186) Northern Kentucky University ($58,970) National University ($55,679) University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ($53,988)

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) Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($77,965) Engineering, Other ($74,204) Mechanical Engineering ($73,297) Civil Engineering ($72,350)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Health Sciences trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Chico's Health Sciences program score?
This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for Health Sciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Health Sciences to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Health Sciences careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 43% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does California State University-Chico rank so high for Health Sciences?
The #20 ranking out of 156 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 →