Parks & Recreation at California State University-Chico
Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
41
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings
$33,920/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market
Very Small (1,100 openings/yr)
ROI
17.0x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Parks & Recreation graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $558K | $549K | $499K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 17.3x | 17.0x | 15.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 7.0x | 6.9x | 6.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 42% | 36% | 26% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 41 | 41 | 31 |
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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,886
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,924
68% growth from Year 1
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
Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
$75,890/yr
Compare & Explore
Parks & Recreation at Other Schools
Other Majors at California State University-Chico
Frequently Asked Questions
How does California State University-Chico's Parks & Recreation program score?
This program scores 41/100 — on the lower end for Parks & Recreation. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Parks & Recreation to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Parks & Recreation careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does California State University-Chico rank so high for Parks & Recreation?
The #12 ranking out of 59 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 →