California State University-Chico
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families looking for lower cost. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $55,400 within 10 years.
About This School
California State University-Chico is a public institution located in Chico, California with approximately 13,631 undergraduate students enrolled. California State University-Chico has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 93%. The average net price after financial aid is $14,480 per year. The graduation rate is 63%, and the typical graduate earns $55,400 within 10 years of enrollment.
California State University, Chico is a public university in Chico, California, United States. It was founded in 1887 as one of about 180 "normal schools" founded by state governments in the 19th century to train teachers for the rapidly growing public common schools. Some closed but most steadily expanded their role and became state colleges in the early 20th century and state universities in the late 20th century. It is the second oldest campus in the California State University system. As of the fall 2020 semester, the university had a total enrollment of 16,630 students. The university offers 126 bachelor's degree programs, 35 master's degree programs, and four types of teaching credentials. Chico is a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI).
The numbers tell a reasonably encouraging story here — median debt at graduation is just $14,500, well below the national average, and median earnings of $55,400 a decade out offer a decent return for a net price of under $15,000 a year. The 94% acceptance rate makes this accessible, and 84% of freshmen return for sophomore year, suggesting students generally find their footing. The one honest concern is the 64% graduation rate, which means roughly 1 in 3 students doesn't finish — worth asking the school directly about support resources if you're evaluating fit and follow-through.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
What This School Looks For
From the school's most recent Common Data Set (2024-25). What the admissions office actually weighs:
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 16% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (13,631 undergraduates).
In the Classroom & On Campus
Class size distribution
Source: California State University-Chico Common Data Set (2024-25).
Contact & Location
Address
California State University-Chico
First and Normal Sts
Chico, CA 95929-0150
Official Links
Other Schools in California
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · Public
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · Public
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Public
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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