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California State University-Chico

Chico, California · Public · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$14,480What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
93%
Graduation rate
63%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
13,631
In-state tuition
$8,472Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$21,072
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$64,172Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$14,480

Better than 51% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

63%

Better than 74% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$64,172

Better than 79% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$16,552

Better than 85% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$26,283

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$14,480

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for California State University-Chico
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time63%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return82%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$16,552
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$64,172

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at California State University-Chico by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$113,181113
Construction Management$89,075Not reported
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician$88,648116
Computer Science$81,02166
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians$77,965Not reported
Engineering, Other$74,20430
Mechanical Engineering$73,29788
Civil Engineering$72,35058
Engineering-Related Fields$69,04215
Accounting and Related Services$60,606Not reported
Computer and Information Sciences, General$49,96778
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$49,06816
Agricultural Business and Management$47,93769
Business Administration, Management and Operations$46,145503
Public Health$45,339122
Plant Sciences$43,94422
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$42,88611
Political Science and Government$41,89367
Geography and Cartography$40,38017
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General$40,0576
International Relations and National Security Studies$39,06010
Communication and Media Studies$38,42194
Mathematics$38,21236
Economics$37,43227
Biology, General$37,12089
Sociology$36,992158
Social Work$36,84063
Social Sciences, General$36,38252
Criminal Justice and Corrections$36,045152
Journalism$35,66821
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies$33,92049
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$33,75829
Animal Sciences$33,38798
Psychology, General$31,827313
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services$31,673Not reported
History$30,69747
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$30,441Not reported
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$29,29754
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$28,236180
Anthropology$27,85645
Design and Applied Arts$27,57385
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$27,196184
English Language and Literature, General$27,04556
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences$25,952Not reported
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies$25,525Not reported
Nutrition Sciences$25,49034
Music$25,33944
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$24,427Not reported
Area Studies$23,14917
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$22,91713
Fine and Studio Arts$22,62854
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsNot reported55
Agriculture, GeneralNot reported52
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringNot reported29
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationNot reported20
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported20
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported17
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported14
PhysicsNot reported11
Natural SciencesNot reported8
PhilosophyNot reported8
Computer EngineeringNot reported8
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported7
Public AdministrationNot reported6
ChemistryNot reported4
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported3
Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansNot reported1
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Leisure and Recreational ActivitiesNot reportedNot reported
Mathematics and Computer ScienceNot reportedNot reported
Botany/Plant BiologyNot reportedNot reported
Educational/Instructional Media DesignNot reportedNot reported
Computer Software and Media ApplicationsNot reportedNot reported
Management Information Systems and ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyNot reportedNot reported
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reportedNot reported
StatisticsNot reportedNot reported
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Biological and Physical SciencesNot reportedNot reported
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, OtherNot reportedNot reported

All 81 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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