Head-to-head comparison
California State University-Chico vs Foothill College: which has better ROI?
Option A Chico, CA
California State University-Chico
- Net price / year
- $14,480
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,172
- Payback
- 3.7 yrs
Option B Los Altos Hills, CA
Foothill College
- Net price / year
- $7,653
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,072
- Payback
- 3.5 yrs
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.