Home › California State University-Chico › Social Sciences, General

Social Sciences, General at California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

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)

Ranked #24 of 76 Social Sciences, General programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Social Sciences, General 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)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,352

-84% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$13,987

4.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,545

39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,382 track close to the $38,652 national median for Social Sciences, General programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Social Sciences, General programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Social Sciences, General's typical career paths, with 45% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

At $13,987 in median debt against $36,382 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #24 of 76 Social Sciences, General programs, California State University-Chico scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $36,382 to $50,545 over five years — a 39% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

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

View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Social Sciences, General 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, General 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, General field.

Will AI replace Social Sciences, General 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 →