Natural Resources & Conservation Research at California State University-Chico
Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Natural Resources Conservation and Research
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings
$33,758/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk
High (48% exposed)
Job Market
Large (55,700 openings/yr)
ROI
17.7x earnings multiple (7.2x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Natural Resources & Conservation Research graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $583K | $572K | $523K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 18.1x | 17.7x | 16.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 7.3x | 7.2x | 6.6x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 45 | 44 | 42 |
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 (7.2x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
7.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,420
73% growth from Year 1
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
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
$100,830/yr
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
$87,710/yr
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
$80,060/yr
Compare & Explore
Natural Resources & Conservation Research at Other Schools
Other Majors at California State University-Chico
Consider the Trade Route?
Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Natural Resources & Conservation Research at California State University-Chico?
A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Natural Resources & Conservation Research. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Natural Resources & Conservation Research careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $522,620 in decade earnings vs $582,671 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes California State University-Chico's Natural Resources & Conservation Research program stand out?
Ranked #31 of 256 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 →