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California State University-Chico
California State University-Chico admits nearly everyone — 92.7% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether California State University-Chico is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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California State University-Chico sits in Chico proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $127,498 four years out. Faculty pay averages $139,968 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. Most of its 13,631 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 81.6% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
California State University-Chico won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
California State University-Chico does not use test scores in admissions at all: the 92.7% who got into California State University-Chico did it on GPA, coursework and application alone. No score range exists to publish.
In the Fall 2023 cycle, California State University-Chico received 22,263 applications and admitted 20,864 (93.7%), with 2,171 enrolling.
How California State University-Chico compares
| California State University-Chico | California median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 92.7% | 75.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,472 | $23,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $64,172 | $64,778 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, California State University-Chico's median earnings are $64,172 — below the California benchmark of $64,778. Weigh that against the $8,472 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, California State University-Chico prices by residency: $8,472 in-state versus $21,072 out-of-state — a $12,600 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
California State University-Chico enrolls 13,631 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs California State University-Chico's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
62.8% graduate within six years. Roughly 37% don't — ask a California State University-Chico tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at California State University-Chico
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $127,498 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $117,543 |
| Construction Management | $108,021 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $106,225 |
| Engineering, Other | $103,272 |
| Computer Engineering | $97,345 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $93,555 |
| Civil Engineering | $92,472 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $91,059 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $86,430 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $85,612 |
| Mathematics | $77,891 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $74,888 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $72,651 |
| Biology, General | $71,726 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $69,531 |
| Geography and Cartography | $69,500 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $69,303 |
| Plant Sciences | $68,629 |
| Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies | $67,921 |
| Economics | $67,675 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $65,198 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $64,274 |
| Journalism | $63,358 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $62,855 |
| Agriculture, General | $61,369 |
| Political Science and Government | $61,293 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $61,230 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $60,367 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $60,296 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | $59,765 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $59,146 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,464 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $58,391 |
| Social Work | $57,146 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $56,144 |
| Natural Sciences | $55,102 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $55,008 |
| Public Administration | $54,714 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $52,978 |
| Psychology, General | $52,621 |
| Sociology | $52,323 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $52,150 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $51,491 |
| Social Sciences, General | $50,845 |
| History | $49,351 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $49,189 |
| Animal Sciences | $48,474 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $45,468 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $44,629 |
| Anthropology | $43,153 |
| Music | $42,269 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $41,993 |
| Area Studies | $41,818 |
Median earnings for these 54 California State University-Chico programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $64,172 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 27 additional California State University-Chico programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for California State University-Chico?
California State University-Chico doesn't look at test scores; its 92.7% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is California State University-Chico's acceptance rate?
93.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 20,864 admitted from 22,263 applicants.
How much does California State University-Chico cost?
In-state tuition is $8,472; out-of-state students pay $21,072. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do California State University-Chico graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $64,172 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in California
- California State University-Dominguez Hills — 93.3% admitted
- California State University-Fresno — 95.3% admitted
- California State University-Fullerton — 90.5% admitted
- California State University-San Bernardino — 93.7% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.