California State University-Chico is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Chico, California. It enrolls 13,631 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
77/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes66
Value88
Affordability75
Selectivity15
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 92.7%, California State University-Chico is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
92.7%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether California State University-Chico is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
21.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending California State University-Chico isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,480 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,480
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
43%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
32%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,472
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$21,072
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,500
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,644
Books & Supplies
$1,096
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,020
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,876
Total Cost of Attendance
$26,283
Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,902
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,099
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,961
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,506
Over $110,000
$23,566
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$7,00025%percentile
$16,552Medianpercentile
$22,70075%percentile
$29,59690%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,517
↓ $2,035
No Pell $14,243
↓ $2,309
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $1,552
Independent students $13,750
↓ $2,802
Female students $14,267
↓ $2,285
Male students $14,740
↓ $1,812
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,000, less than completers ($16,552), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
69% of full-time students who enrolled at California State University-Chico graduate within six years, and 83% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
69%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
83%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered California State University-Chico earn a median of $64,172 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$64,172
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$49,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$62,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$52,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$55,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$59,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,400, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
12.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
California State University-Chico is home to 13,631 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 47% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
13,631
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
47%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 41.1%5,597
Hispanic 38.9%5,301
Other 6.8%930
Asian 5.4%742
Black 3.0%414
International 1.1%153
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at California State University-Chico. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityChico, California
Housing
Limited on-campus housing1,758 beds
Adult Learners
17%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
California State University-Chico offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
81 distinct programs across
25 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Chico is 20:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,575
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$89M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$93,332
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
493 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
159
32%
$113,149
Associate Professors
129
26%
$96,460
Assistant Professors
94
19%
$81,263
Lecturers
110
22%
$71,123
No Rank
1
0%
$116,703
Pros & Cons of California State University-Chico
A quick at-a-glance summary of how California State University-Chico tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Best for:
Based on the data, California State University-Chico is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about California State University-Chico
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about California State University-Chico.
Is California State University-Chico hard to get into?
California State University-Chico has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 92.7%.
What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Chico?
California State University-Chico has an acceptance rate of 92.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does California State University-Chico cost?
The average net price after aid at California State University-Chico is $14,480 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is California State University-Chico worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $64,172 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,480 per year. That's roughly 4.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is California State University-Chico known for?
California State University-Chico is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do California State University-Chico graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering California State University-Chico are $64,172, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is California State University-Chico accredited?
Yes. California State University-Chico is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend California State University-Chico?
California State University-Chico enrolls 13,631 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Chico?
California State University-Chico graduates 69% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is California State University-Chico a public or private college?
California State University-Chico is a Public institution.
Where is California State University-Chico located?
California State University-Chico is located in Chico, California.
What programs does California State University-Chico offer?
California State University-Chico offers 81 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Chico?
The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Chico is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Rankings That Feature California State University-Chico
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