California State University-Chico
About
California State University, Chico is a public university in Chico, California, United States. It was founded in 1887 as one of about 180 "normal schools" founded by state governments in the 19th century to train teachers for the rapidly growing public common schools. Some closed but most steadily expanded their role and became state colleges in the early 20th century and state universities in the late 20th century. It is the second oldest campus in the California State University system. As of the fall 2020 semester, the university had a total enrollment of 16,630 students. The university offers 126 bachelor's degree programs, 35 master's degree programs, and four types of teaching credentials. Chico is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
Admissions funnel
How selective is this institution, and how many admitted students choose to enroll?
Outcomes & equity
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 12.0-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
What families actually pay
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Academic programs
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Faculty
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
CSU vs IPEDS peer group
The peer institutions CSU selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectCalifornia State University-Chico | 63% | 92.7% | 15,257 | $14,838 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Appalachian State University | 75% | 90.1% | 21,570 | $16,487 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Boise State University | 59% | 87.2% | 27,198 | $19,182 | R2 Research |
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 86% | 31.3% | 23,069 | $15,624 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | 49% | 98.2% | 6,237 | $13,167 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 72% | 47.5% | 20,081 | $2,978 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
CUNY Hunter College | 57% | 53.8% | 22,538 | $2,446 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Eastern Michigan University | 46% | 79.6% | 12,631 | $17,084 | R2 Research |
Georgia Southern University | 55% | 87.9% | 27,423 | $16,531 | R2 Research |
Grand Valley State University | 67% | 83.0% | 22,011 | $17,096 | Doctoral/Professional |
James Madison University | 80% | 71.5% | 22,740 | $21,816 | R2 Research |
Missouri State University-Springfield | 58% | 90.5% | 24,360 | $17,502 | Doctoral/Professional |
Northwest Missouri State University | 54% | 86.1% | 9,152 | $14,824 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Saint Cloud State University | 39% | 94.8% | 10,732 | $14,485 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
San Francisco State University | 50% | 96.4% | 22,563 | $12,882 | R2 Research |
Southeastern Louisiana University | 45% | 99.3% | 14,426 | $12,174 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Texas State University | 55% | 89.3% | 40,674 | $16,438 | R2 Research |
The University of Texas at San Antonio | 53% | 86.8% | 35,770 | $11,234 | R1 Research |
University of Maryland Global Campus | 20% | — | 63,012 | $14,514 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 69% | 79.6% | 31,091 | $14,745 | R2 Research |
Western Kentucky University | 58% | 93.9% | 16,291 | $10,916 | Doctoral/Professional |
Western Washington University | 65% | 93.2% | 14,710 | $18,680 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Peer group median | 57% | 87.9% | 22,275 | $14,831 |
Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
We believe that data is only as valuable as the decisions it enables.
Visit IR office pageCommon Data Set (5)
The institution's official annual Common Data Set publications — the most detailed reference for enrollment, admissions, and outcomes.
Documents & reports (6)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardcsuchico.edu
- Data dictionaryFact Book – Institutional Research and Strategic Analytics – Chico State2026The Fact Book is a comprehensive and interactive source of data about California State University-Chico, encompassing various aspects such as student applications, retention, persistence, graduation, degrees conferred, course grades, and diversity measures. Its dashboards are periodically updated with data derived from official reporting to the CSU System Office and Department of Education. The Fact Book is a valuable tool for gaining insights into the university's diverse and dynamic community.csuchico.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookFact Book – Institutional Research and Strategic Analytics – Chico StateThe Fact Book is a comprehensive and interactive source of data and information about California State University-Chico. It provides insights into the university's students, faculty, and programs, covering topics such as applications, retention, persistence, graduation, degrees conferred, course grades, and diversity measures. The data are sourced from official reporting to the CSU System Office and Department of Education, with dashboards updated periodically for accuracy.csuchico.edu
- GlossaryDecember 2019 - Underrepresented Minority (URM) and First Generation – Institutional Research and Strategic Analytics – Chico StateThe page on Chico State's Institutional Research and Strategic Analytics site provides definitions for 'Underrepresented Minority (URM)' and 'First Generation' students. URM refers to U.S. citizens identifying as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, or American Indian, while First Generation pertains to students whose parents have not received a baccalaureate degree. The focus is on addressing the needs and challenges faced by these historically underserved student groups to improve their academic success.csuchico.edu
- Strategic planStrategic Plan 2024 — Chico State2024The Chico State Playbook serves as the institution's new strategic plan, focusing on organizational health and immediate decision-making through a concise document. It centers around engaging students in immersive learning experiences, fostering an inclusive and rewarding environment, and serving as a community resource. Spearheaded by President Perez and guided by values of connection, excellence, inspiration, and innovation, the Playbook sets out to shape Chico State's path forward from 2024 onward.csuchico.edu
Notable alumni (7)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Nicole Brown
- Leland "Lee" Bucknell
- Jaymes Clements
- Jeff DeFranco
- Frank Nigro Jr.
- Joseph Rothschild
- Weston Sousa
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