Social Sciences at California State University-Chico
Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Social Sciences, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
55
Optimistic
54
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,382/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk
High (45% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (318,400 openings/yr)
ROI
16.1x earnings multiple (6.5x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Social Sciences graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $522K | $519K | $488K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 16.2x | 16.1x | 15.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.5x | 6.5x | 6.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 61% | 54% | 43% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 55 | 54 | 58 |
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 (6.5x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,987
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$50,545
39% growth from Year 1
About California State University-Chico
California State University-Chico has a 94% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, 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
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Statisticians
$103,300/yr
Sociologists
$101,690/yr
Compare & Explore
Social Sciences 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 Social Sciences at California State University-Chico?
A score of 54/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Social Sciences field.
Will AI replace Social Sciences careers?
With 45% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $487,713 in decade earnings vs $522,270 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →