Program Analysis
At $35,668/yr, Journalism graduates from California State University-Chico land near the $34,417 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Journalism programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Journalism's typical career paths, with 64% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $18,618 represents roughly 6 months of the $35,668 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #24 of 178 nationally, this is a top-5% Journalism program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $56,247 show a 58% jump from the $35,668 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.