Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Midsize city

California State University-Chico

Chico, California. 13,631 undergraduates. Admits 93% of applicants.

California colleges Official websiteIts net price calculator
60%Graduation rate6 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$14,157Average net price per year29% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$70,012Median earnings 10 years after starting19% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$14,259Median debt at graduation34% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($14,259) equals 20% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($70,012). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$9,227
$30,000–$48,000$9,652
$48,001–$75,000$11,665
$75,001–$110,000$16,700
Over $110,000$23,898

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $8,896 in-state, $22,216 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate60%54%
Return for second year82%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$55,359$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$70,012$58,912
Median debt at graduation$14,259$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

91 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Science75$86,125$143,731$18,875
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing94$114,417$118,667$18,042
Civil Engineering47$81,083$105,838$19,699
Mechanical Engineering64$74,209$100,454$18,750
Computer and Information Sciences, General65$55,549$99,666$14,852
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician105$94,934—$18,875
Engineering-Related Fields8$78,346$94,693—
Computer Engineering8—$93,690—
Engineering, Other21—$91,501—
Accounting and Related Services—$65,113$87,590$15,185
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology15$44,596$83,256—
Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering—$81,738—$16,875
Plant Sciences33$45,257$81,572$13,000
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences—$39,724$79,643—
Biology, General67$40,177$78,995$23,000
Natural Resources Conservation and Research37$43,037$78,853$13,750
Business Administration, Management and Operations468$54,000$78,313$14,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services41$25,055$74,108$11,000
Geography and Cartography7$52,155$72,217—
Agricultural Business and Management49$56,503$71,484$16,875
Mathematics27$37,564$71,058—
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General1$51,116$70,309—
Economics18$50,550$68,550$12,089
Journalism30$45,400$66,512$19,005
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas0$46,018$65,071$16,429
Criminal Justice and Corrections123$38,561$64,018$16,963
International Relations and National Security Studies8—$62,688—
Communication and Media Studies90$41,856$62,429$14,000
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies64$45,695$61,964$19,000
Agriculture, General41—$60,137$17,688
Social Work66$46,652$59,997$16,389
Political Science and Government52$44,275$59,913$15,000
Social Sciences, General57$41,661$58,549$14,750
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities204$31,996$58,493$11,435
Sociology168$43,158$57,047$17,313
Nutrition Sciences29—$56,361—
Psychology, General265$37,176$56,123$14,383
Design and Applied Arts99$32,019$56,106$15,000
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics18$46,552$55,195$17,375
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness158$34,520$55,052$15,603
Animal Sciences79$40,373$54,730$16,000
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services—$41,866$54,665—
English Language and Literature, General57$27,603$54,357$13,000
Area Studies15—$54,082—
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology——$53,121$20,500
Music28$34,293$52,619$10,755
History36$33,731$50,026—
Anthropology41$34,898$46,238$14,718
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services—$36,519$45,649$15,000
Fine and Studio Arts54$35,521$44,023$18,192
Public Health130$41,491—$16,317
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies—$41,166——
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology18$40,406——
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies12———
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication16———
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods68———
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering27——$18,668
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians4———
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics2———
Natural Sciences6———
Philosophy7———
Religion/Religious Studies9———
Chemistry2———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences5———
Physics8———
Public Administration8———
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft16———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

93%Admission rate
23:1Students per faculty member
46%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

Similar colleges in California

California State University-Monterey BaySeaside · net price $13,861 · grad rate 63%San Jose State UniversitySan Jose · net price $14,241 · grad rate 68%World Mission UniversityLos Angeles · net price $15,820 · grad rate 59%Humphreys UniversityStockton · net price $13,473 · grad rate 67%California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtArcata · net price $13,751 · grad rate 44%Cal Poly Maritime AcademyVallejo · net price $17,793 · grad rate 58%

Compare colleges side by side

Quick answers

How much does California State University-Chico cost per year?
The average net price at California State University-Chico, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $14,157 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do California State University-Chico graduates earn?
Former California State University-Chico students earn a median of $70,012 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Chico?
60% of California State University-Chico students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do California State University-Chico graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from California State University-Chico is $14,259. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.