California State University-Chico
- Graduation Rate
- 63% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $64,172 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $14,480 C+
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 93% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 30.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $30.3 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $30.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,694,774.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 57% more than the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $30.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why California State University-Chico Matters
California State University-Chico is a public university in Chico, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 13,631
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Psychology, Humanities
Why students choose California State University-Chico
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 93% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,480 a year after grants and scholarships — 15% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $64,172 ten years after enrolling — 57% above the typical college, against $16,552 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.53 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Over 13,600 students call California State University-Chico home, making it a vibrant hub for education. With a 93% acceptance rate, this public university welcomes a diverse array of applicants each year, fostering a community that thrives on inclusivity and opportunity.
Data from Opportunity Insights reveals that graduates from CSU-Chico can expect to earn about $64,172 ten years post-graduation. This places many graduates in a strong position to improve their economic standing, especially for those who start in the bottom 20% of income. While the graduation rate stands at 63%, the university’s commitment to student success is evident in its supportive environment.
The net price of attending CSU-Chico is approximately $14,480, which is affordable compared to many other institutions. With a median debt of $16,552, students can graduate with manageable financial obligations. Those who thrive here are often drawn to popular programs in Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Health Professions, Psychology, and Humanities, which reflect the university's focus on practical and applicable skills for the job market.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective California State University-Chico is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into California State University-Chico? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Chico, California, California State University-Chico admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Retention Rate
- 82%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 56%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,664
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 20:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.67
- First-Gen Students
- 47%
- Applicants
- 21,417
- Admitted
- 20,347
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend California State University-Chico? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California State University-Chico is $21,072, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,480. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,902 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,552 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,472
- Out-of-State
- $21,072
- Avg Net Price
- $14,480
- Median Debt
- $16,552
- Pell Grant Rate
- 43%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 32%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,902
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,099
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,961
- Family Income $110K+
- $23,566
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at California State University-Chico — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is California State University-Chico Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California State University-Chico earn a median of $64,172, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $50,493
- 8 Years
- $58,630
- 10 Years
- $64,172
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 67%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (853)
- 29%
- 100% (853)
- 29%
- 100% (853)
- 29%
- 100% (853)
- 29%
How California Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is California State University-Chico Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, California State University-Chico delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,480/year ($57,920 total). Graduates earn $64,172 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,752,694 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,694,774 (30.3× your investment). The median debt is $16,552, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 63% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $57,920
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,752,694
- Net Return
- $1,694,774
- ROI Multiple
- 30.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,480
- Median Debt
- $16,552
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 63%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-13,116,471
Top Programs
The fields California State University-Chico awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 16% $98,728 early-career
- Social Sciences 11% $49,577 early-career
- Psychology 8% $33,619 early-career
- Humanities 8% $22,304 early-career
- Health Professions 7% $113,825 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 6% $33,550 early-career
- Engineering 5% $93,087 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 4% $88,213 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for California State University-Chico's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into California State University-Chico? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Chico, California, California State University-Chico admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend California State University-Chico? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California State University-Chico is $21,072, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,480. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,902 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,552 in federal student loans.
Is California State University-Chico Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California State University-Chico earn a median of $64,172, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is California State University-Chico? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at California State University-Chico. Its economic connectedness score is 1.53, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to California State University-Chico.
- Western Washington UniversityBellingham, WA · Close peer65% grad $62,569 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI · Close peer63% grad $57,624 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Montclair State UniversityMontclair, NJ · Close peer64% grad $61,415 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- North Dakota State University-Main CampusFargo, ND · Close peer64% grad $62,203 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-San MarcosSan Marcos, CA · Close peer54% grad $62,908 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Towson UniversityTowson, MD · Close peer69% grad $64,390 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is California State University-Chico? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at California State University-Chico. Its economic connectedness score is 1.53, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note