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California State University-Chico

Chico, California 95929-0150

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Campus Vibe

Large UniversityUrbanPublic

Known for business — excellent value

California State University-Chico is a public institution in Chico with particular strength in business and psychology.

A large campus of 13.1K undergraduates with a 20:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

64% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $64,172 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $14,838.

Established
1887
Motto
"Today Decides Tomorrow"
Mascot
Willie the Wildcat
Type
Public university
Division
Division II

Campus Visits

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94%Acceptance
—SAT Avg
13,057Students
20:1Student:Faculty
64%Grad Rate
$64,172Earnings 10yr
$14,838Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

California State University-Chico Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate93.7%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

93.7%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$8,064
Tuition (out-of-state)$19,944
Room & Board$16,020
Books & Supplies$1,052
Total Cost of Attendance$25,590
Average Net Price$14,838
Median Debt at Graduation$16,552
Monthly Payment (10yr)$175

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$10,045
$30–48K$10,612
$48–75K$13,937
$75–110K$18,380
$110K+$23,572

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

66.9%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$14,500

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

98

Peer Average

92

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

24/7 campus police department, blue-light phone network, emergency mass notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

25

Burglary

5

Aggravated Assault

3

Robbery

8

Motor Vehicle Theft

10

Sex Offenses

1

Arson

26

Drug Arrests

20

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (120)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

84%

Mixed
  • •84% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
13,057
Gender Split
55% / 45%
Women / Men
First Generation
47%
Pell Grant Recipients
40%

Race & Ethnicity

White 42%
Black 3%
Hispanic 38%
Asian 6%
Two+ 6%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate63.6%
Freshman Retention83.7%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$50,493
10 Years$64,172

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#20
↓1
vs 2024
Forbes
#204
↑1
vs 2024
Wall Street Journal
#29
—
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#6
↑1
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Chico State

Cross countryGolf championships

History & Fun Facts

  • •Trinity Hall as seen from George Petersen Rose Garden On March 12, 1887, a legislative act was enacted to create the Northern Branch of the California State Normal School.
  • •On September 3, 1889, doors opened for the 90 enrolled students.
  • •The library opened on January 11, 1890, with 350 books.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

SMF Sacramento73 mi
SFO San Francisco148 mi
SJC San Jose164 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2613 mi · ~75h 29m drive
New York, NY2493 mi · ~72h 1m drive
Hartford, CT2542 mi · ~73h 26m drive
Providence, RI2604 mi · ~75h 14m drive
Albany, NY2475 mi · ~71h 30m drive
Syracuse, NY2351 mi · ~67h 55m drive
Rochester, NY2277 mi · ~65h 47m drive
Buffalo, NY2216 mi · ~64h 1m drive
Philadelphia, PA2447 mi · ~70h 41m drive
Pittsburgh, PA2192 mi · ~63h 19m drive
Harrisburg, PA2354 mi · ~68h drive
Newark, NJ2484 mi · ~71h 46m drive
Washington, DC2370 mi · ~68h 28m drive
Baltimore, MD2385 mi · ~68h 54m drive
Atlanta, GA2099 mi · ~60h 38m drive
Charlotte, NC2250 mi · ~65h drive
Raleigh, NC2353 mi · ~67h 59m drive
Miami, FL2578 mi · ~74h 29m drive
Orlando, FL2417 mi · ~69h 49m drive
Tampa, FL2380 mi · ~68h 45m drive
Nashville, TN1914 mi · ~55h 18m drive
New Orleans, LA1912 mi · ~55h 14m drive
Richmond, VA2377 mi · ~68h 40m drive
Chicago, IL1784 mi · ~51h 32m drive
Detroit, MI2013 mi · ~58h 9m drive
Minneapolis, MN1495 mi · ~43h 11m drive
St. Louis, MO1688 mi · ~48h 46m drive
Kansas City, MO1451 mi · ~41h 55m drive
Indianapolis, IN1883 mi · ~54h 24m drive
Columbus, OH2044 mi · ~59h 3m drive
Cleveland, OH2090 mi · ~60h 23m drive
Milwaukee, WI1762 mi · ~50h 54m drive
Dallas, TX1470 mi · ~42h 28m drive
Houston, TX1645 mi · ~47h 31m drive
Austin, TX1506 mi · ~43h 30m drive
San Antonio, TX1501 mi · ~43h 22m drive
Los Angeles, CA440 mi · ~12h 43m drive
San Francisco, CA139 mi · ~4h 1m drive
San Diego, CA550 mi · ~15h 53m drive
Seattle, WA545 mi · ~15h 45m drive
Portland, OR402 mi · ~11h 37m drive
Denver, CO894 mi · ~25h 50m drive
Phoenix, AZ694 mi · ~20h 3m drive
Salt Lake City, UT529 mi · ~15h 17m drive
Honolulu, HI2469 mi · ~71h 20m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Sacramento (SMF)73 miles
Rental car
110 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
146 min$88-146
San Francisco (SFO)148 miles
Rental car
222 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
296 min$178-296

Deadline Calendar

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California State University-Chico Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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California State University-Chico — v2 Preview — TourStack