Quad

California State University-Chico

Chico, CAQuad's selectivityOpenfrom CaliforniaAccessiblefrom other states
Known forFirst-gen friendly
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

  • Fall 2025: 22,542 applied (fall 2024: 23,322)California State University-Chico (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 20,528 admits (fall 2024: 21,623)California State University-Chico (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 91% admitted (fall 2024: 93%)California State University-Chico (Fall 2025)
  • Now reported: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 480–610 (fall 2025)California State University-Chico Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Now reported: middle 50% SAT Math 438–580 (fall 2025)California State University-Chico Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Entered fall 2024: 81% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 82%)California State University-Chico Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:California State University-Chico Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;California State University-Chico Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

9 in 10 applicants admitted

California State University-Chico admits about 9 in 10 applicants (91%). That puts it in the "Open in-state, Accessible out of state" tier, more selective than 20% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

91%

91%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpenfrom CaliforniaAccessiblefrom other states

Applied

22,542

Admitted

20,528

Yield

10%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.40

SAT middle 50%

940–1170

8001600
Applications +8% since fall 2014 · admit rate 71% → 93%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 13,631 undergrads, where 43% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

13.6K

undergrads · larger than 92% of colleges

Diversity index

0.67

Pell Grant

43%

above the median

First generation

47%

above the median

Midsize cityNCAA D-II · California Collegiate Athletic AssociationStudy abroadUndergrad research
Steady · index 0.67 → 0.67 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (16% of graduates). 23 students for every faculty member, more than at 96% of colleges. 56% of faculty are full-time. Spends $8,907 a year on instruction per student.

23 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 96% of colleges

Most popular major

Business Administration and Management, General

16% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$127.5K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

56%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$8.9K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $20,680 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $3.6K less than the national median. The 66% who received grants paid $14,630 on average; the other 34% paid the full sticker price of $28,030 in-state / $39,910 out-of-state.

27%

$20.7K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $3.6K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$28,030 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 27% of full price

Federal loans

32%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −10% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $64,172 ten years after enrolling, more than at 77% of colleges; 74% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.3 years of that salary.

74%

74%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$64.2K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$16.6K

≈ $175/month for 10 years

Retention

81%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 59% → 63% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 5% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 10%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 8% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 71% to 93%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −10% after inflation

  • Applications

    Steady

    +9%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 71% → 93% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.67 → 0.67

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Portland State University

91% admit · 13.2K undergrads

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Cleveland State University

91% admit · 9K undergrads

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University of New Mexico-Main Campus

95% admit · SAT 1030 · 17.2K undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    California State University-Chico Common Data Set 2025–26

    California State University-Chico · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2024–25; 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Fall 2026 cycle; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  4. 4
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    California State University-Chico (2026)

    California State University-Chico · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 110538 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything