Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $36,992 at California State University-Chico come in 8% above the national median of $34,392 for Sociology programs.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Sociology programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Sociology's typical career paths, with 42% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $36,992 far exceeding the $14,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #94 of 414 nationally, this is a top-5% Sociology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $36,992 to $46,999 over five years — a 27% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.