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Journalism at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,668/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI 17.2x earnings multiple (7.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #24 of 178 Journalism programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $565K $555K $504K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.5x 17.2x 15.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.1x 7.0x 6.3x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 46% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 45 44 40

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 (7.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,352
-84% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,618
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,247
58% growth from Year 1

About California State University-Chico

With 94% of applicants admitted, California State University-Chico prioritizes broad access, 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

Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr
Editors $75,260/yr
Writers and authors $72,270/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 178 schools offering Journalism →

Journalism at Other Schools

George Washington University ($52,015) Northeastern University ($51,855) Northwestern University ($50,426) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($48,637) University of Maryland-College Park ($46,893) Brigham Young University ($46,652) Lehigh University ($45,256) University of Southern California ($44,651)

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)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Journalism at California State University-Chico?
A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Journalism. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Journalism careers?
With 64% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $503,828 in decade earnings vs $564,781 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes California State University-Chico's Journalism program stand out?
Ranked #24 of 178 programs nationally, California State University-Chico lands in the top 25%. 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 →