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Chico , CA
California State University, Chico, commonly known as CSU Chico, is a public university located in the city of Chico, California. Established in 1887, it is the second oldest campus in the California State University system. CSU Chico offers over 400 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across various disciplines, including agriculture, business, communications, education, engineering, health sciences, and the liberal arts. With a student population of around 17,000, it provides a vibrant and close-knit community where students can engage in various extracurricular activities, academic organizations, and cultural events.
CSU Chico is known for its exceptional faculty who are not only committed to teaching but also emphasize practical experience and critical thinking. The university focuses on fostering hands-on learning opportunities, encouraging undergraduate research, and promoting engagement with the local community. Through these initiatives, students gain valuable real-world experience and develop the skills necessary for successful careers after graduation.
Additionally, CSU Chico takes pride in its beautiful campus and surroundings. Located in the foothills of Northern California's Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, the university offers stunning views and ample opportunities for outdoor activities. The university's commitment to sustainability is reflected in its LEED-certified buildings, renewable energy initiatives, and numerous programs aimed at reducing environmental impact. Furthermore, the city of Chico provides a supportive and lively atmosphere with a vibrant downtown, outdoor recreation areas, and a welcoming community. Overall, California State University, Chico offers a well-rounded education, engaging campus life, and a picturesque environment.
Located in Chico, CA, California State University, Chico is a public four-year college. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 91%. The freshman retention rate at California State University, Chico is 81.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 63%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is December 15. The transfer application deadline is December 15.
To find out more about what California State University, Chico has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
13,392
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
22:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
63%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Here are the most vital facts you need to know about admission policy and requirements at California State University, Chico.
In 2025, the school accepted 21,623 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
2% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 0.5% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 8% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 28% between 1,200 and 1,399, 34% between 1,000 and 1,199, 28% between 800 and 999, and 2% between 600 and 799. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 24-29 was 42.9 and 57.1 in the range between 18-23.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.39. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance.
Deadlines
The cutoff date for submitting applications to California State University, Chico is December 15. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is December 15.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for California State University, Chico was 81.4%, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 63%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the best match for you is not simple. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at California State University, Chico in 2025 was 14,581.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 4% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 13,392, 149 of which were foreign students. The school reported to have a total of 1,960 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 5,670 male and 7,319 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at California State University, Chico.
This school had 710 Asian students and 399 Afro-American students in 2025. 5,170 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 758 as multirace. The school also had 29 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 65 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 474 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for California State University, Chico.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for California State University, Chico is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $6,450. Tuition fees were $19,552 for students coming from a different state. If you are an international student at California State University, Chico, you should know that the 2025 tuition amounted to $19,552, as well. Full-time students in 2025 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $2,446.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $19,552 | $2,446 | $21,998 |
| In-State | $6,450 | $2,446 | $8,896 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The approximate cost of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,122.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, the price of room and board at California State University, Chico was $16,668 per academic year. If you only wanted a dorm room, it cost $8,726 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 6,450 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,668 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,122 |
| Total Expense | $ 24,240 |
Financial Aid
Financial aid for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at California State University, Chico.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,173 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $11,946 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 6,109 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at California State University, Chico isn't available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 7,204. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $32,877,150, and state $21,501,269. The students of California State University, Chico received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $18,784,628, and external in the amount of $2,836,430.
$4,044
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 261 students overall (including freshmen) at California State University, Chico in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 103 full-time freshmen. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $413,073. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $616,966 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
22:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at California State University, Chico was 22:1: that means 22 students per one teacher. This school has recently reported to have 884 faculty members. This number included 408 male and 475 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at California State University, Chico.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at California State University, Chico is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about students' life at California State University, Chico.
Its campus spans 119 acres.
Student Organizations
Participating in multiple student organizations can add depth and fulfillment to your educational journey.
This school has 150 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. 1 percent of male and 1 of female students are involved in different organizations at California State University, Chico. The student organization that is most favored by students is Omicron Theta Epsilon, followed by NSLS and SAE Baja Club. Other popular student organizations at this school are CRU and Christian Challenge.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? California State University, Chico publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
California State University, Chico has a number of services vital for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of California State University, Chico.
All in all, campus life at California State University, Chico is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at California State University, Chico.
Career Counselling
At California State University, Chico, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Acquiring information about the potential income after graduation can help you decide if a specific school is the right one for your career aspirations.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this school is 56,500 USD.
$56,500
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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California State University, Chico is located in Chico, CA.
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California State University, Chico doesn't offer need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for California State University, Chico is 91%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for California State University, Chico is 81.4%.
Contact Information
California State University, Chico
400 W. First St
Chico , CA
95929-0722
530 898-4636
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
