Construction Engineering Technologies at California State University-Chico

Cal State Chico's construction engineering program punches well above its weight class. With first-year earnings of $88,648 against just $21,104 in debt, graduates land in the 95th percentile nationally—outearning 95% of construction engineering programs across the country. That 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio means students pay back roughly three months of salary, making this one of the strongest returns available in the field.

The California context reveals the state's construction engineering programs are exceptionally strong overall, with a median of $84,784 that already exceeds the national benchmark by $12,000. Even within this competitive landscape, Chico holds its own at the 60th percentile, trailing only Long Beach and Cal Poly Pomona among the state's programs. For a school with a 94% admission rate serving a substantial population of Pell grant recipients, these outcomes are remarkable.

The combination of near-open admissions, modest debt loads, and elite-level earnings makes this program an exceptional value. Parents paying in-state tuition get access to outcomes that rival far more selective universities, with graduates entering a robust construction market where demand consistently outpaces supply. This is exactly the kind of program where accessibility meets strong career preparation.