College ROI

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California State University-Chico

Chico, CA 13,631 Undergrads 74.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$26,798
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,157
After Aid
Median Earnings
$69,787
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,157
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$69,787
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$70,012
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate74.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)22.4
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients44.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time90.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
92.7%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$606k
+$136k
+$119k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$555k
+$85k
+$68k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$509k
+$39k
+$23k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
39
134%
Full Cost$27k/yr
51
24%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return137%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-16%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$14,373
Earnings (4yr)
$85,612
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
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Median Debt
$16,875
Earnings (4yr)
$65,198
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
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Median Debt
$17,094
Earnings (4yr)
$61,369
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
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Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$15,419
Earnings (4yr)
$48,474
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$12,780
Earnings (4yr)
$43,153
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
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Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,818
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,367
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,984
Earnings (4yr)
$71,726
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
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Median Debt
$13,305
Earnings (4yr)
$72,651
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$17,375
Earnings (4yr)
$92,472
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$252k
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Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,391
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
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Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,855
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
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Median Debt
$14,852
Earnings (4yr)
$91,059
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,345
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$289k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$127,498
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$518k
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Median Debt
$16,001
Earnings (4yr)
$58,464
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
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Median Debt
$14,937
Earnings (4yr)
$44,629
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
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Median Debt
$18,168
Earnings (4yr)
$64,274
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,675
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,430
Natl Median: $89,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
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Engineering, Other
BachCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$103,272
Natl Median: $93,989
Lifetime Value Added
+$335k
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Median Debt
$12,371
Earnings (4yr)
$49,189
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
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Median Debt
$17,594
Earnings (4yr)
$45,468
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,491
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,500
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,774
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,303
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,351
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
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Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,993
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,921
Natl Median: $42,907
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,150
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
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Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$19,800
Earnings (4yr)
$63,358
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,200
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,008
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,891
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
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Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$93,555
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,888
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$10,673
Earnings (4yr)
$42,269
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
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Median Debt
$13,009
Earnings (4yr)
$69,531
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
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Natural Sciences
BachCIP: 3018
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,102
Natl Median: $57,935
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
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Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,146
Natl Median: $60,053
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
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Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$59,765
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$754
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
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Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,230
Natl Median: $62,172
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
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Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$12,767
Earnings (4yr)
$68,629
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
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Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,293
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$13,729
Earnings (4yr)
$52,621
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,714
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
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Median Debt
$17,477
Earnings (4yr)
$117,543
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$443k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,687
Earnings (4yr)
$56,144
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
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Median Debt
$14,342
Earnings (4yr)
$50,845
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$12,410
Earnings (4yr)
$57,146
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$15,509
Earnings (4yr)
$52,323
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$15,881
Earnings (4yr)
$52,978
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
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Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,463
Earnings (4yr)
$60,296
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
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Master's Degrees

Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$35,500
Earnings (4yr)
$109,161
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$295k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,397
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,503
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,126
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,313
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$35,500
Earnings (4yr)
$75,000
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,840
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,443
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,273
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,314
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,007
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$306k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$345k
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Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.