About California State University-Chico

Founded in 1887, California State University-Chico. is a Public college. Located in California, which is a city setting in California, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 16,471 full time undergraduate students, and 1,086 full time graduate students.

The California State University-Chico Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 25:1. There are 536 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at California State University-Chico include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate65%
Application Deadline
Application Fee55
SAT Range880-1100
ACT Range19-24

Admissions at CSU are considered Selective, with ,75% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 12 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

100% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 76% were in the top quarter, and 35% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at California State University-Chico.

California State University-Chico REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    148 Students rated on-campus housing 3.3 stars. 14 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    117 Students rated off-campus housing 4.1 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    190 Students rated campus food 3.2 stars. 14 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    205 Students rated campus facilities 4 stars. 34 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    205 Students rated class size 3.9 stars. 33 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    204 Students rated school activities 4 stars. 37 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    206 Students rated local services 4.4 stars. 60 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    205 Students rated academics 4 stars. 38 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of California State University-Chico?

78 Students rated California State University-Chico

Haidyn - 10/07/2021

I absolutely love Chico, I think that it is a great school and we have amazing programs. We are well known, most employers have a friend that went to Chico back in the day so connections are great. Our reputation has changed from a party school to one that has great nursing, engineering, and criminal justice majors. Our campus is beautiful, and professors will always make time for students, and they love the material they teach.

Laura - 04/04/2021

CSU Chico has a lot of programs and support available for students academically as well as for students who need housing or food assistance. Chico has a great gym (the wrec) which offers classes ranging from yoga, cycling, to zumba, and taekwondo do. No matter where you come from or what your background is, CSU Chico experience will definitely help you succeed and make you feel that you belong!

Samantha - 08/05/2020

Chico is filled with nature and very kind people. All of the professors that I have met so far really do care about the students and do everything they can to ensure their student's success! There is one slight problem, however. All of us, student and faculty alike, know that we are not getting our money's worth when it comes to tuition. The students feel like they are being robbed. If I have to pay so much for tuition then I expect to be given the materials necessary for school. I understand having to pay for books since that's an entire monopoly all on its own, but having to pay for simple materials and equipment? Not to mention the student housing has their own issues. A lot could be fixed with the money that the school gets, but instead we deal with broken housing, rotten food, and a LIST of hazards that the school should be sued for. If it weren't for all the pocket picking that the school does then I would claim that college is a haven for education, and I would HEAVILY try to convince people to make a difference and go. But with everything that is going on, I honestly feel like you can get really far without going to college, but I know that deep down going to college is still something that everyone should do. Even though I feel cheated, I am still here persuing my education to do the thing that I love and get paid for it. Even so, nothing is a bigger scam than University.

Melissa - 07/30/2020

I have always loved the campus, it is small but it definitely has the feeling of a community. While I do wish they offered more shops and other services, they provide enough to make it comfortable. I love the english department and the professors, I cannot comment on other department but if their anything like the english professors then they are amazing.

California State University-Chico FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at California State University-Chico?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for California State University-Chico is 65%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    The advice that I would give myself would to apply to more scholarships. Universities are very expensive and I had to and still take out loans. If I had known about college life I could have saved my money at my jobs and had done more extracurricular activites and had done a sport for the entire four years instead of doing it my last year. I could have received a scholarship for college. The basic information that i would give to myself is to get involved and apply as much scholarships as I possibly could.

    Read all  190 answers
  3. Describe the students at your school.

    Students take both thier studies and their social lives seriously.

    Read all  42 answers
  4. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Beautiful, welcoming, and student oriented.

    Read all  40 answers
  5. What's unique about your campus?

    Many students attend CSU Chico expecting a glistening Party-topia with fountains of booz e and friendly easy-going people. Although many people are friendly, there is certaintly a dark underside to the town. Many people come to the city to deal drugs and party along with the students, with no intention of succeeding academically. With them, comes an influx of crime, it is not the safest place. However, it is not all bad. Like anywhere, it is possible to find friendly open-minded people of good character, you've just got to search a little harder.

    Read all  35 answers
  6. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    Probobly not being able to get a job on camput since I am a freshmen they give the jobs to the seniors first

    Read all  32 answers
  7. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    The kind of person who shouldn't attend is one who wants to be driven and focused on getting a great career after school. Chico State sets us up for success but doesn't necessarily guide the way. The school isn't focused on sciences, math or the arts very well. It mostly caters to business and communications majors (which incidentally helps me out!). If you plan on getting a career in theater or film, look elsewhere.

    Read all  32 answers
  8. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    I had a great experience at Chico State and can't think of the "worst" thing about this school. As a matter of fact it was and continues to be a great place to attend.

    Read all  32 answers
  9. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish i would have known more about the outdoor recreation activities available in the Chico area. Bidwell park is an amazing place for walks, bike rides, hikes and many other things. When I first started at this school, I had no idea that I could satisfy my need for outdoor activities within the city limits. I wasted the first several months at Chico searching for getaways near Chico where I could go to the river or go on hikes, little did I know that all of this and more was available right in front of my nose!

    Read all  32 answers
  10. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    The atmosphere in Chico is of a friendly sort. As well as the scenery being serene. The campus is covered with trees, in fact the campus is actually an arbotoreum. I also liked the buildings; they are so diverse in structure and they each have a story behind them.

    Read all  26 answers
  11. What kind of person should attend this school?

    Someone who loves to be involved on campus, has the dedication to commit to school work during the week but willing to have fun on the weekends, someone who loves the environment and appreciates it's beauty.

    Read all  24 answers
  12. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    Honestly most people who hear about Chico State assume it is one big party. Unfortunately they over look the many better things Chico State is known for. We have raised almost one million dollars for "Up till Dawn" which donates to St. Jude's children's hospital and also the CAVE program here is well known for helping with many different parts of the community. Also Chico is a very "green" school and does its best to recycle and reuse things. I think that people need to not judge a book by its cover and see what Chico really is.

    Read all  24 answers
  13. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    Small classes, good professors, fun school, nice campus.

    Read all  19 answers
  14. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    Most common stereotype is that we drink, a lot!

    Read all  2 answers
  15. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    Chico is a beautiful school, with red brick buildings and enough green, leafy trees to actually qualify the campus as an arboretum. The curriculum, specifically speaking from a Business major standpoint, is challenging but with very clear real-life applications for what you are learning. Nestled in one of the few remaining "college towns," it can be very easy to get oneself lost in the small-town life instead of the University one. That all being said, there are parts that I, personally, find less than favourable. The recent controversy over the parking structure, for example. Every morning there's dangerous, polluting deadlock to find parking spots in the sole parking structure available. Thus, to alleviate this problem, the Board proposed and laid foundations for a new, LEED certified parking structure. The hippies and people with terrible priorities went utterly nuts. Of course, most of them biked in because they were able to pay for housing near to the school, so they had no idea about the issue, as students come from Redding and other towns pretty far from chico and need to drive, thus making the second parking structure kind of a no-brainer. Anyways, aside from the fee hikes, that was the biggest thing going on, along with our own "Occupy" movement, quiet though it was. Chico is a great school with a lot of varied opinions and viewpoints. That pretty much sums it up.

    Read all  1 answers
  16. Where is the best place to get work done on campus?

    Oh, by and large, the library. There are whole sections devoted to quiet study and one can definitely power through a few good hours there with just one's books, an mp3 player and things that need to get done.

    Read all  1 answers
  17. Why did you decide to go to this school?

    Inexpensive, far from home and I had cousins who went through here already so I knew what to expect.

    Read all  1 answers
  18. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    CAVE, the student volunteer group, is by and large the biggest student group but there are hundreds of others to choose from. Next, there's the greek organizations, then the heritage groups, then the political groups, followed by a massive number of nice or personal hobby/interest groups. Athletics are a decently sizable interest but as we don't have a football team, its really not that big of a deal. Other sports that we have are Volleyball, Soccer, Track and Rugby, among others. Right off campus is Chico's downtown so there's plenty to do within walking distance and Bidwell Park, the larget Municipal park this side of the Mississippi, is just a short bike ride away.

    Read all  1 answers
  19. What are the academics like at your school?

    The academics, as I've said before, are rigorous without delving too much into theoretical, speaking from the college of Business. The professors generally get to know you quite well if you interact in class and truly do care about your success. They are more than willing to talk to you in their office hours and understand if you have difficulties with the material and will gladly help you through them. ACCT 202 was a pain and a half but I got through it and I'm glad I did, as it prepared me for classes after that were difficult and how to deal with them. As a Business student, the learning is geared to real-life and the life beyond these halls, where the impetus is becoming the best you can and finding your niche or your strength, then how to bring that into the company you work for.

    Read all  1 answers

Student Body

Students

53%

female

47%

male

16,471

Total Undergrad Enrollment

1,086

Total Grad Students

1%

Out-Of-State

98%

In-State

1%

International

Organizations

186

Student Organizations

N/A

Fraternities

N/A

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

14%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
1%
% Asian/Pacific Islander
6%
% Black or African-American
2%
% Hispanic/Latino
31%
% White or Caucasian
44%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

77% of students attending California State University-Chico receive some sort of financial aid. 46% were awarded federal grants. While 52% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$18,200

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,792

Books and Supplies

$12,536

Room and Board

32,528

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$9,378
$30 - $48K
$10,723
$48 - $75K
$15,054
$75 - $110K
$19,178
$110K & UP
$21,873

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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