California State University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
California State University-Chico is a public research university in Chico, California, with about 13,631 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 92.72% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $64,172 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $8,472
- 2024 Average Net Price: $14,480 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 92.72% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 13,631 90.9% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 62.78%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 47.3%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 1.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 4.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 55.7%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 15,045
- Applicants (IPEDS): 22,263
- Room & Board: $16,500 annual estimate
California State University-Chico: what the data shows
Common questions about California State University-Chico, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is California State University-Chico?
California State University-Chico is located in Chico, CA (ZIP 95929-0150).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is California State University-Chico public or private?
California State University-Chico is a Public institution.
How much does California State University-Chico cost?
Published tuition: $8,472 in-state, $21,072 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $14,480.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $9,902 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,099 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $12,961 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $16,506 |
| $110,001+ | $23,566 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $33,888.
How hard is it to get into California State University-Chico?
Admission rate: 92.72%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is California State University-Chico?
Total enrollment: 13,631 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 15,045 students.
Graduate enrollment: 1,465 students.
About 91% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Chico?
150%-time completion rate: 62.78%.
First-year retention: 81.6%.
What do graduates of California State University-Chico earn?
Median earnings: $50,493 six years after entry; $64,172 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $16,552.
42.52% of students receive Pell grants.
What is California State University-Chico known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (576 completions)
- Psychology, General (290 completions)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (198 completions)
- Social Work (174 completions)
- Sociology, General (168 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (123 completions)
- Public Health, General (113 completions)
- Computer Science (107 completions)
- Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (105 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (97 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is California State University-Chico a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 92.72%; completion rate 62.78%; median earnings $64,172 at 10 years; net price $14,480. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$8,472
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at California State University-Chico was $8,472.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$14,480
2024 Value
In 2024 California State University-Chico had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,480.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$57,920 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$14,480 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$33,888 4-Year In-State Tuition
$84,288 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$16,500 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,096 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$26,068 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$104,272 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for California State University-Chico.
Financial Aid by Income Level
42.52% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
32.41% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at California State University-Chico was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for California State University-Chico in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $6,972 | $18,132 | $15,184 |
| 2014 | $7,002 | $18,162 | $13,640 |
| 2015 | $7,022 | $18,182 | $13,365 |
| 2016 | $7,040 | $18,200 | $13,845 |
| 2017 | $7,348 | $19,228 | $14,703 |
| 2018 | $7,608 | $19,488 | $14,453 |
| 2019 | $7,806 | $19,686 | $15,017 |
| 2020 | $7,864 | $19,744 | $16,218 |
| 2021 | $7,864 | $19,744 | $13,384 |
| 2022 | $7,972 | $19,852 | $15,578 |
| 2023 | $8,064 | $19,944 | $14,838 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
92.72% Acceptance Rate
22,263 Total Applicants
20,864 Students Admitted
2,171 First-Time Students Enrolled
10.41% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
California State University-Chico reported total enrollment of about 13,631 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 44% male and 56% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (41.1%), Hispanic or Latino (38.9%), and Two or More Races (6.1%). About 42.52% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 47.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
90.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at California State University-Chico in 2024 is 13,631 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 15,045 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,465 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
81.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 41.1%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
35.88% 100% Completion Time
62.78% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 35.88% of students graduating from California State University-Chico completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 59% male / 41% female
- Psychology, General: 22% male / 78% female
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 6% male / 94% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for California State University-Chico.
Return on Investment
$16,552 Median Student Debt
$64,172 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
25.79% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1007.94% Return on Investment
2.6 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for California State University-Chico.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 75 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 576 completions
2. Psychology, General: 290 completions
3. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 198 completions
4. Social Work: 174 completions
5. Sociology, General: 168 completions
6. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 123 completions
7. Public Health, General: 113 completions
8. Computer Science: 107 completions
9. Construction Engineering Technology/Technician: 105 completions
Most popular programs at California State University-Chico.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for California State University-Chico graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for California State University-Chico from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 55.7%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $11,664
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,907
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
California State University-Chico is a public institution located in Chico, CA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, General, Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. Enrollment is approximately 13,631 students. Student body composition includes White (41.1%), Hispanic or Latino (38.9%), Two or More Races (6.1%). The admission rate is 92.72%. The 150%-time completion rate is 62.78%. Approximately 42.52% of students receive Pell Grants. About 47.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
Chico, CA 95929-0150
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 75 distinct degree programs, California State University-Chico provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is California State University-Chico located?
California State University-Chico is located in Chico, CA.
What is California State University-Chico's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at California State University-Chico is 92.7% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 22,263 applicants and 20,864 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does California State University-Chico cost?
Reported tuition is $8,472 and average net price is $14,480 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $16,500 annually.
What is the student body demographics at California State University-Chico?
California State University-Chico reports undergraduate enrollment of about 15,045 students, White (41.1%), Hispanic or Latino (38.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend California State University-Chico?
About 47.3% of students at California State University-Chico are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of California State University-Chico earn?
Median earnings are $50,493 six years after entry and $64,172 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Chico?
The 150%-time completion rate is 62.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do California State University-Chico students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $16,552.
Is California State University-Chico public or private?
California State University-Chico is a public institution located in Chico, CA.
Is California State University-Chico an HBCU?
No. California State University-Chico is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is California State University-Chico a tribal college?
No. California State University-Chico is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is California State University-Chico a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—California State University-Chico reports 38.9% Hispanic enrollment share.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- Chico, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.