Regional university
California State University-Chico
Chico, CA · Public · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $14,480 a year
Median debt at graduation: $16,552 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.63%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.82%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.Not reported
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.23 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$8,907
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $26,283 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 13,160 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 44% · Women 56% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 47% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 2% |
| Total students | 14,523 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $14,480 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $26,283 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $16,552 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 63% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 68% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 67% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 71% |
| First-year retention | 82% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $64,172 |
| Admission rate | 93% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $70 |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $1,270 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 43% |
Value: Exceptional · Top 5% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computer science | |
| Nursing | |
| Construction Management | |
| Electrical engineering technology | |
| Other engineering | |
| Computer engineering | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Computing and information science | |
| Engineering-Related Fields | |
| Accounting | |
| Mathematics | |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | |
| Business administration | |
| Biology | |
| Natural resources and conservation | |
| Geography | |
| Health sciences | |
| Plant Sciences | |
| Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies | |
| Economics | |
| Agricultural business | |
| Ecology and evolutionary biology | |
| Journalism | |
| Speech-language pathology | |
| Agriculture | |
| Political science | |
| Physiology and pathology | |
| Biochemistry | |
| Secondary education | |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | |
| Nutrition Sciences | |
| Criminal justice | |
| Communication studies | |
| Social work | |
| Romance languages | |
| Natural Sciences | |
| Liberal arts | |
| Public administration | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Psychology | |
| Sociology | |
| International relations | |
| Foods, Nutrition, | |
| Social sciences | |
| History | |
| English | |
| Animal Sciences | |
| Fine arts | |
| Design | |
| Anthropology | |
| Music | |
| Family and human development | |
| Area studies |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Biological and physical sciences, Botany/Plant Biology, Broadcasting, Chemistry, Construction Engineering Technology/Technician, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Electrical engineering, Ethnic and gender studies, Geology and earth science, German, Industrial technology, Instructional design, Interdisciplinary studies, Leisure and Recreational Activities, Linguistics, Management information systems, Mathematics and Computer Science, Other health professions and related clinical sciences, Philosophy, Physics, Public health, Religious studies, Software and media applications, Statistics, Teacher education, Theatre, Writing and rhetoric.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Social sciences | |
| Health professions | |
| Psychology | |
| Parks, recreation and fitness |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 9% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 17% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $16,500 |
| Sports | NCAA Division II · California Collegiate Athletic Association |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 23 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 7%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 56%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $6,639IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 13% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Redding Municipal Airport (RDD)About 59 miles away · about 1 hour 40 minutes by car |
| Nearest major airport | Sacramento International Airport (SMF)About 73 miles away |
| Town population | 102,188Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | SacramentoAbout 83 miles away · about 1 hour 55 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 46°F in January · 78°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Chico University Farm, CA, about 3 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.16 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.03 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.16 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is California State University-Chico’s Compass Score?
- Good (grade B). It ranks in the top 37% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does California State University-Chico cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $14,480 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into California State University-Chico?
- California State University-Chico admitted 93% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do California State University-Chico’s graduates do?
- 63% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $64,172; the median federal debt at graduation is $16,552.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 110538
- Carnegie classification: Master's university (larger programs)
- Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
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