California State University-Chico vs Foothill College: which has better ROI?
Foothill College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $30,612 in 3.5 years versus 3.7 years at California State University-Chico, on median earnings of $57,072 vs $64,172 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California State University-Chico | Foothill College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,480 | $7,653 |
| Total net cost | $57,920 | $30,612 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,172 | $57,072 |
| Median debt | $16,552 | $10,500 |
| Payback | 3.7 yrs | 3.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $258,320 | $143,628 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, California State University-Chico or Foothill College?
Foothill College, at $7,653 a year after aid versus $14,480 — a gap of $6,827 a year, or $27,308 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do California State University-Chico or Foothill College graduates earn more?
California State University-Chico graduates report a median $64,172 ten years after entry, $7,100 more than the $57,072 at Foothill College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, California State University-Chico or Foothill College?
Foothill College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $16,552 at California State University-Chico, a difference of $6,052. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at California State University-Chico, against 56% at Foothill College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.