California State University Chico
- 5/10 Overall Rating
- 4 Year
- Chico, CA
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5.0 1 review
Overview
Total enrollment
15,257- Location Chico, California
- Website csuchico.edu
- Type Public 4 Year
- Setting Small City
- Size Mid-size
- Status Non-profit
- Housing Yes
- Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate
California State University, Chico sits in the Sacramento Valley town of Chico, approximately 90 miles north of Sacramento. Founded in 1887 as the Northern Branch of the State Normal School, it is the second-oldest campus in the California State University system and operates from a 119-acre main campus featuring brick buildings and mature trees in a residential setting. The university maintains a competitive admission process for its undergraduate programs, with particular academic strength in business administration, nursing, engineering, and agriculture, reflecting the regional agricultural economy of the northern Sacramento Valley. Students typically reside in on-campus housing during their first year, with many upperclassmen moving to the surrounding downtown Chico neighborhood, while the university competes in NCAA Division II athletics as the Wildcats.
Ratings
CSU is rated within the lower 45% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 5 out of 10.
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Overall Rating5 out of 10
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Academics3 out of 10
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Resources3 out of 10
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Outcomes8 out of 10
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Value4 out of 10
Rankings
Rankings for California State University Chico within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
Admissions
Admission Standards
- GPA 3.37
Acceptance Rate
- Applications Due Dec 15, 2026
- Enrollment Rate 10.2%
- Application Fee $70
Applicant Competition Very Low
Annual Cost to Attend
California Resident Tuition
$8,472Out of State Resident Tuition
$21,072Breakdown
- Tuition $8,472
- Books and Supplies $1,096
- Other Fees $2,388
- Room and Board $16,500
- Budget for Other Expenses $3,020
- Total One Year Cost $31,476
- Tuition $21,072
- Books and Supplies $1,096
- Other Fees $2,388
- Room and Board $16,500
- Budget for Other Expenses $3,020
- Total One Year Cost $44,076
Student Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
Popular majors at California State University Chico are Business, Social Sciences, and Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies. 17% of students major in Business, 9% in Social Sciences, and 8% in Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies.
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Business 17%
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Social Sciences 9%
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Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies 8%
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Visual and Performing Arts 8%
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Health Professions 8%
More Colleges to Consider
Students considering California State University Chico are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
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Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=110538.
GPA calculator: California State University Chico GPA calculator.
Last updated: August 2026