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Economic score
California State University, Chico is a public regional university located in Chico, California. Chico State is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Chico State is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $56,270 10 years after enrolling, 56th in California, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Chico State bachelor students earn 1% more than the national average. Chico State is ranked 38th in California.
California State University, Chico’s median net annual cost of $16,218 and average years to graduate of 4.7 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Chico State sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Psychology, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Health & Fitness, Sociology, Criminal Justice - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$16,218
Average years to graduate
4.7
Registered Nursing
Rank: #44
Economic score: 0.97
Computer Science
Rank: #57
Economic score: 1.13
Civil Engineering
Rank: #29
Economic score: 1.32
Computer science
Rank: #112
Economic score: 1.71
Agricultural Bus. and Mgmt.
Rank: #17
Economic score: 2.48
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #94
Economic score: 3.47
Parks & Recreation Studies
Rank: #13
Economic score: 3.86
Biology
Rank: #181
Economic score: 4.65
Social Work
Rank: #107
Economic score: 5.22
Design & Applied Arts
Rank: #219
Economic score: 19.83
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Chico State - Social Work, Psychology, Communication disorder sciences, Business Administration, Health & Fitness, Public Administration - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.7 years. 76% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Chico State is 8% higher than the state average, and 18% above the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Chico State, Pell Grant recipients represent 43% of the measured graduating class, 8% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Chico State graduates within 4.8 years.
Chico State is in the top 10% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
California State University, Chico’s economic mobility score of 32.39 is calculated by adjusting the 2.14 economic score of lower-income students by the 43% pell grant recipients within the student body. Chico State’s EMS of 32.39 ranks in the top 10% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 10%
The average Title IV recipient at California State University, Chico pays $16,218 a year, $8,468 less than the $24,686 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $16,218
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Chico State, 63% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $16,218 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 30% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,037. This is 24% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,637
Pell grants
$4,814
State grants
$2,490
Institutional grants
$5,619
California State University, Chico offers 4 online bachelor programs, all of which are hybrid format. At the master’s level Chico State offers 3 programs, one of which is held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
7
Hybrid programs
6
Percentage of programs online
6%
California State University, Chico's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 85% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 19,990 applicants, of which 17,086 were admitted and 1,929 enrolled. Chico State doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
94%
83%
Female
57%
59%
First time
49%
59%
In-state
98%
68%
1st generation
47%
35%
White
43%
52%
Black
3%
14%
Hispanic
36%
15%
Asian
6%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
12%
12%