Chico, California Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Chico, California: median public in-state tuition $8,472 (+53.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $64,172 (+18.0% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 92.4% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $16,552 (+24.7% vs U.S.) 13,672 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 13,672 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $8,472 (+53.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $64,172 (+18.0% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 92.4% (+4.4 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $15,108 (+51.5% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $16,552 (+24.7% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,537
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 62.8%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 81.6%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Chico serve students across California with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 13,672 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $8,472. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Chico, California and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Chico vs California & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, California | $8,472 | $15,108 | $16,552 | 62.8% | 13,672 |
| California (state median) | $1,350 | $8,343 | $11,537 | 59.0% | 2,134,322 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Chico, California vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, California | $64,172 | 92.4% | 81.6% | 6.1% | — | 78.1% | 0.26 |
| California (state median) | $65,668 | 90.0% | 83.8% | 3.7% | — | 74.1% | 0.28 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in California (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, California | $8,472 | $15,108 | $16,552 | 62.8% | 13,672 | $64,172 | 92.4% |
| Los Angeles | $16,900 | $21,711 | $18,375 | 71.7% | 120,534 | $74,165 | 87.7% |
| San Diego | $13,284 | $23,205 | $13,000 | 69.2% | 95,661 | $66,228 | 89.4% |
| Sacramento | $1,288 | $20,520 | $10,674 | 50.8% | 94,048 | $64,876 | 91.3% |
| Long Beach | $4,453 | $14,158 | $11,812 | 68.9% | 60,761 | $64,403 | 91.1% |
| Fullerton | $5,420 | $6,555 | $13,750 | 70.2% | 56,299 | $56,324 | 89.2% |
| Fresno | $7,350 | $20,190 | $10,976 | 53.5% | 54,532 | $60,070 | 91.2% |
| Riverside | $15,606 | $21,765 | $11,098 | 60.8% | 53,903 | $61,824 | 90.9% |
| Pasadena | $31,530 | $25,065 | $13,194 | 37.4% | 49,021 | $62,222 | 84.6% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Chico, California by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 62.8%, California State University-Chico
California State University-Chico
Top college in Chico, California by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 92.4%, California State University-Chico
California State University-Chico
Most selective college in Chico, California (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 92.7%, California State University-Chico
California State University-Chico
Top college in Chico, California by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $113,181, California State University-Chico
California State University-Chico
Top college in Chico, California by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $127,498, California State University-Chico
California State University-Chico
Top college in Chico, California by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $50,493, California State University-Chico
California State University-Chico
Top college in Chico, California by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $58,630, California State University-Chico
California State University-Chico
Top college in Chico, California by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $64,172, California State University-Chico
California State University-Chico
Top college in Chico, California by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $216,858, California State University-Chico
California State University-Chico
Most affordable college in Chico, California (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $14,480, California State University-Chico
California State University-Chico
Top college in Chico, California by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 81.6%, California State University-Chico
California State University-Chico
In-state tuition: Chico, California vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Chico, California median in-state tuition is $8,472, +53.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Chico, California vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Chico, California is $16,552 (+24.7% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,537.
Median earnings (10 years out): Chico, California vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Chico, California center around $64,172 (+18.0% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Chico, California vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 92.4% at the median Chico, California campus (+4.4 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Chico, California median public in-state tuition is $8,472, about +53.7% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is +158.0%.
Median graduate debt is $16,552 (+24.7% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Chico, California are $64,172, about +18.0% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 92.4% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+4.4 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 81.6% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.1% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 78.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include California State University-Chico (92.4%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Chico, California is 62.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Chico?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Chico, California with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Chico?
Median in-state tuition in Chico is $8,472 and median net price is $15,108. For California overall, medians are $1,350 and $8,343; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Chico?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Chico is $64,172 vs $65,668 for California and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Chico colleges?
Median completer debt in Chico is $16,552 vs $11,537 for California and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Chico?
Top campuses on this page include California State University-Chico (graduation) and California State University-Chico (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Chico?
Among 3 campuses in Chico, California, 2 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include California State University-Chico and Butte County Regional Occupational Program.
Sources & related
- California college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON