Cal State (CSU) guide · By CalChannel Editorial Team · Updated October 5, 2026
Chico State admitted 91.1% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025, or 20,528 of 22,542, according to its Common Data Set. It’s a California State University campus in the college town of Chico in Northern California. For 2026-27, California residents pay $9,344 in tuition and mandatory fees, and the full cost of attendance living on campus is $29,546.
California State University, Chico, better known as Chico State, is the second-oldest campus in the CSU system and one of the most residential. Its setting in a small city at the edge of the Sierra Nevada foothills gives it a classic college-town feel that’s rare among Cal State campuses.
This guide is built on Chico State’s own 2025-26 Common Data Set and its 2026-27 student budgets. It’s most useful if you’re weighing a residential campus outside the big metro areas, or applying from another western state through WUE.
| Fact | Chico State |
|---|---|
| Official name | California State University, Chico |
| Type | Public university, California State University system |
| Location | Chico, Butte County, Northern California |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Acceptance rate | 91.1% (Fall 2025: 20,528 admitted of 22,542 applicants) |
| Transfer acceptance rate | 76.0% (Fall 2025: 6,289 of 8,280) |
| Average high school GPA | 3.4 (Fall 2025 enrolled first-years) |
| SAT/ACT | Not used for admission (CSU policy) |
| Students | 14,823 total, 13,599 undergraduates (Fall 2025) |
| Tuition and mandatory fees, California residents (2026-27) | $9,344 |
| Cost of attendance, on campus (2026-27) | $29,546 |
| Retention / graduation rate | 82% / 60% in six years (2019 cohort) |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 22:1 |
| Athletics | Wildcats, NCAA Division II, CCAA |
Sources: Chico State Common Data Set 2025-26; Chico State Financial Aid, Cost of Attendance 2026-27. Full list at the end of the article.
In This Article
- Chico State in Brief: CSU’s Second-Oldest Campus
- Chico State Acceptance Rate: 91% for Fall 2025
- How to Apply to Chico State for Fall 2027
- What a Year at Chico State Costs in 2026-27
- Class Size, Retention and Graduation Rates
- Chico State for WUE and Out-of-State Students
- Life in Chico: A True College Town
- Agriculture, Nursing and Other Chico State Strengths
- Frequently Asked Questions
Chico State in Brief: CSU’s Second-Oldest Campus
CSU Chico is California State University, Chico, a public university founded in 1887 as the Northern Branch State Normal School. It’s one of the campuses of the California State University system and the second-oldest after San José State.
Is Chico State the same as a UC school? No. It’s part of the CSU system, so students apply through Cal State Apply and pay CSU tuition, which is far lower than UC tuition. Chico State runs on semesters and offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees across colleges of agriculture, business, communication and education, engineering and computer science, natural sciences, behavioral and social sciences, and humanities and fine arts.
Chico State Acceptance Rate: 91% for Fall 2025
Chico State admitted 91.1% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025: 22,542 students applied, 20,528 were admitted and 2,041 enrolled, according to its Common Data Set 2025-26. For California residents, the rate was 91.8%.
| Chico State, Fall 2025 | Applied | Admitted | Acceptance rate | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-year, California residents | 21,846 | 20,047 | 91.8% | 1,994 |
| All first-year applicants | 22,542 | 20,528 | 91.1% | 2,041 |
| Transfer applicants | 8,280 | 6,289 | 76.0% | 1,993 |
Source: Chico State Common Data Set 2025-26, items C1 and D2.
Chico State admits almost every applicant who meets CSU eligibility: completion of the A-G course pattern and at least a 2.5 GPA for California residents. SAT and ACT scores are not used. Enrolled first-years for Fall 2025 averaged a 3.4 high school GPA. Chico State also participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), which lowers tuition for eligible students from other western states.
How to Apply to Chico State for Fall 2027
First-year and transfer applicants apply through Cal State Apply, and Chico State requires them to file during the initial filing period, October 1 to November 30 for fall admission. For Fall 2027, that window closes on November 30, 2026. The application fee is $70.
Chico State isn’t impacted as a campus, but two majors are: Nursing and Recording Arts. Applicants to those programs must meet supplementary admission criteria and apply during the initial filing period. For other majors, meeting CSU eligibility is generally enough, which is why Chico State admits most applicants.
What a Year at Chico State Costs in 2026-27
For 2026-27, California residents pay $6,838 in CSU tuition plus $2,506 in mandatory campus fees, for a total of $9,344. The full cost of attendance is $29,546 living on campus, $28,756 off campus and $25,174 living with relatives.
| Chico State cost of attendance, 2026-27 (California residents) | On campus | Off campus | With relatives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $6,838 | $6,838 | $6,838 |
| Mandatory campus fees | $2,506 | $2,506 | $2,506 |
| Books and supplies | $1,174 | $1,174 | $1,174 |
| Housing | $9,628 | $6,835 | $3,551 |
| Food | $5,992 | $5,979 | $5,979 |
| Transportation | $768 | $1,922 | $2,334 |
| Personal expenses | $2,640 | $3,502 | $2,792 |
| Total | $29,546 | $28,756 | $25,174 |
Source: Chico State Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, 2026-27 Cost of Attendance, 9-month academic year. WUE students living off campus are budgeted at $32,176 and nonresidents at $40,060.
Chico State says its students receive an average of $11,529 a year in grants and scholarships. Cal Grants, Pell Grants and the CSU State University Grant can cover tuition for eligible Californians, and local buses are free for Chico State students.
Our take: Chico is one of the few places in California where living off campus is budgeted below living in the residence halls. For students outside the Bay Area and Southern California, it’s one of the lowest-cost ways to have a traditional residential college experience at a Cal State.
Class Size, Retention and Graduation Rates
Chico State had 14,823 students in Fall 2025, including 13,599 undergraduates, according to its Common Data Set. The student-to-faculty ratio is 22:1.
About 82% of first-year students returned for their second year. Of the 2019 entering class, 35% graduated in four years and 60% within six years.
Chico State for WUE and Out-of-State Students
Students from other western states who qualify for the Western Undergraduate Exchange pay $10,258 in tuition for 2026-27, about 1.5 times the California resident rate, instead of the $18,142 charged to other nonresidents. In Chico State’s budget for a full-time student living off campus, that lowers the total cost of attendance from $40,060 to $32,176.
| Chico State, 2026-27, 12 units, off campus | California resident | WUE | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $6,838 | $10,258 | $18,142 |
| Mandatory campus fees | $2,506 | $2,506 | $2,506 |
| Total cost of attendance | $28,756 | $32,176 | $40,060 |
Source: Chico State Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, 2026-27 Undergraduate Cost of Attendance. Totals include books, housing, food, transportation and personal expenses.
WUE eligibility and seat limits are set by Chico State and can change, so confirm the current rules with Admissions before you apply.
Life in Chico: A True College Town
Chico State is in the city of Chico, in Butte County at the northern end of the Sacramento Valley, about 90 miles north of Sacramento. The campus sits next to downtown Chico and Bidwell Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the country, with trails and swimming holes along Big Chico Creek.
Is Chico State a good fit for students who want a smaller-town college experience? Yes. Chico is a classic college town, and the university shapes much of its culture, from downtown restaurants to outdoor recreation in the nearby foothills.
Agriculture, Nursing and Other Chico State Strengths
Chico State is known for agriculture, with an 800-acre University Farm, along with business, nursing, construction management, engineering and communication. Has its reputation changed? It was long known as a party school, but today it emphasizes hands-on learning, sustainability and support for first-generation students, and it’s recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
The Chico State Wildcats compete in NCAA Division II in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Chico State acceptance rate?
Chico State admitted 91.1% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025, or 20,528 of 22,542, according to its Common Data Set.
Is Chico State a UC school?
No. Chico State is part of the California State University system, which has its own application, admission rules and lower tuition than the University of California.
How much does Chico State cost?
For 2026-27, California residents pay $9,344 in tuition and mandatory fees. The full cost of attendance is $29,546 on campus.
How many students attend Chico State?
Chico State enrolled 14,823 students in Fall 2025, including 13,599 undergraduates.
Does Chico State offer WUE tuition?
Yes. Eligible students from other western states pay $10,258 in tuition for 2026-27 instead of the $18,142 nonresident rate.
Where is Chico State located?
Chico State is in Chico, California, in Butte County, about 90 miles north of Sacramento.
Is Chico State Right for You?
Chico State is a CSU campus in a Northern California college town. It offers a residential, small-city experience at CSU prices, with strong programs in agriculture, business and nursing.
For California residents, plan for $9,344 in tuition and fees and about $29,500 a year on campus before aid. Compare Chico State with San José State, Cal Poly SLO, CSU Monterey Bay and other Cal State campuses.
Sources
- Chico State Institutional Research. “Common Data Set 2025-26.” csuchico.edu.
- Chico State. “Cost of Attendance, 2026-27.” csuchico.edu.
- Chico State. “Cost and Aid.” csuchico.edu.
- Chico State Catalog. “Admissions (Undergraduate).” csuchico.edu.
- Wikipedia. “California State University, Chico.” Wikipedia.org.
CalChannel Editorial Team California college guides
The CalChannel editorial team researches and writes guides to California colleges, admissions and financial aid. We build our college profiles and aid guides from colleges’ own published data, federal IPEDS data and the California Student Aid Commission. Read our editorial policy.
