California State University-Chico
Chico, CA · Public · Midsize city · CSUC
Public institution in Chico, CA · 13,057 undergraduates · 94% acceptance rate · $64,172 median earnings 10 years after entry.
- Top 9%Undergraduates
- Top 18%In-state tuition & fees
- Top 20%Median graduate debt
- Top 20%Median earnings, 10 years after entry
Stats
College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.
Cost
- Average net price
- $14,838665th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $8,064371st cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $19,944859th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $25,590722nd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $16,552384th lowest of 1,880 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $64,172400th highest of 1,969 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $50,493512th highest of 1,964 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 63.6%644th highest of 2,031 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 83.7%500th highest of 1,853 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 93.7%1,369th most selective of 1,608 reporting
- Average SAT
- —
- Median ACT
- —
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 13,057193rd largest of 2,162 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 20.0:11,878th smallest of 2,159 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 40.1%703rd highest of 2,140 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 149 mi (SFO)
On 2 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 79 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions | bachelors | $92,040 | $95,797 |
| Computer Science | bachelors | $82,440 | $74,241 |
| Construction ManagementBusiness | bachelors | $82,440 | $83,091 |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/TechniciansEngineering Technology | bachelors | $72,605 | $70,176 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science | bachelors | $68,219 | $59,350 |
| Civil EngineeringEngineering | bachelors | $67,846 | $69,617 |
| Mechanical EngineeringEngineering | bachelors | $67,180 | $66,222 |
| Engineering, OtherEngineering | bachelors | $67,101 | $66,355 |
| Engineering-Related FieldsEngineering Technology | bachelors | $63,600 | $57,318 |
| Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness | bachelors | $51,794 | $47,686 |
| MathematicsMathematics & Statistics | bachelors | $48,849 | $32,925 |
| Agriculture, GeneralAgriculture | bachelors | $48,432 | $45,128 |
Campus facts
- Founded in 1887source
- Athletic nickname: "Wildcats"source
- Competes in NCAA Division IIsource
- School colors: Black and Whitesource
- Mascot: Willie the Wildcatsource
- Motto: ""Today Decides Tomorrow""source
- Formerly known as "Northern Branch State Normal School of California" (1887–1921)source
- Formerly known as "Chico State Teachers College" (1921–1935)source
- Formerly known as "Chico State College" (1935–1972)source
- Athletic conference: CCAAsource
- Fight song: ""Chico State Fight Song""source
- Notable alum: Raymond Carversource
- Notable alum: Carolyn S. Shoemakersource
- Notable alum: Chris Wondolowskisource
- Notable alum: Adnan Khashoggisource
- Notable alum: Don Youngsource
Athletics — 8 sports
NCAA Division II without football · NCAA Division II
Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $802,483 (M $425,356 · W $377,127)
Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.
Key links
- Official websitecsuchico.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 110538)
- Compare colleges in CARe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in CaliforniaEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Showdown: California State University-Chico vs California State University-Dominguez HillsHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 8 EADA programs at this school
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.