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California State University, Chico

Chico Facts

Get to know Chico State with some of our quick facts and figures.

Quick Facts

  • California State University, Chico (popularly called "Chico State")
  • Founded: 1887
  • President: Steve Perez
  • Student/Faculty ratio: 28 to 1
  • Average Undergraduate Class Size: 31
  • Campus Acreage: Main campus 132 acres; University Farm 800 acres; Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve 7,835 acres
  • Total General Fund Budget: $247 million
  • Location: 90 miles north of Sacramento; 174 miles northeast of San Francisco
  • Service Counties: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yuba
  • School Mascot: Wildcat
  • School Colors: Red and white
  • Alumni: 186,174

Students

(Fall 2024)

Full-Time Equivalent students 13,504
(FTE: total number of course hours enrolled in during a particular semester, divided by 15 for undergraduates; divided by 12 for graduate students)

Total Number of Students 14,581

  • Freshmen: 2,998 (21%)
  • Sophomores: 2,042 (14%)
  • Juniors: 3,672 (25%)
  • Seniors: 4,680 (32%)
  • Postbaccalaureate Students: 1,189 (8%)

Age

  • Chico State Average (undergraduate and graduate): 23 
    • Undergraduate Average: 22

Ethnicity

  • American Indian/Alaskan Native: 0.5%
  • Asian: 5.3%
  • Black/African American: 2.9%
  • Hispanic/Latino: 38.1%
  • Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.2%
  • White: 41.2%
  • Two or More Races/Ethnicities: 5.9%
  • Unkown/Declined to State: 3.8%

Gender

56.8%

Female

42.9%

Male

0.4%

Another Gender

Student Diversity Demographics

Student Profile

Our students come from 48 nations and 34 states. 97% of the total student population comes from California: 27.4% from Chico State's service area; 10.6% from the Sacramento Area; 21% from the San Francisco Bay Area; 20.1% from the Los Angeles area; and 17.8% from the rest of California. The remaining 3.2% are out-of-state (1.2%) or international (2%) students.

Freshman Profile
Average High School GPA: 3.52 (admits) / 3.42 (enrolled)

Ten Largest Majors

Based on current number of students officially declaring majors.

  1. Business Administration 1,784
  2. Psychology 1,049
  3. Pre-Nursing 811
  4. Liberal Studies 679
  5. Sociology 581
  6. Computer Science 541
  7. Animal Science 458
  8. Construction Management 449
  9. Computer Animation and Game Development 426
  10. Social Work 410

Bachelor's Degrees Granted

Ten majors with the most bachelor's degrees granted. Based on the actual number of degrees granted during the 2023–24 academic year.

Faculty & Staff Stats

  • 1,048*

    Staff

  • 860*

    Instructional Faculty

  • 57%

    Full-time Faculty

  • 43%

    Part-time Faculty

/

*Coaches, librarians, and others who have faculty status but primarily engage in noninstructional functions are counted as staff rather than instructional faculty.

Ethnicity - Instructional Faculty

  • American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.8%
  • Asian: 8.6%
  • Black/African American: 2%
  • Hispanic/Latino: 6.2%
  • White: 73.6%
  • Two or More Ethnicities: 2.2%
  • Not Specified: 6.6%

Ethnicity - Staff

  • American Indian/Alaska Native: 1.2%
  • Asian: 5.6%
  • Black/African American: 2.7%
  • Hispanic/Latino: 16.6%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Island: 0.4%
  • White: 66.4%
  • Two or More Ethnicities: 3%
  • Not Specified: 4.1%

Gender - Instructional Faculty

  • Female: 54%
  • Male: 46%

Gender - Staff

  • Female: 55%
  • Male: 45%

View additional employee diversity demographics.

Academic Programs

Chico State has 7 colleges, 5 schools, and 22 centers and institutes:

Fall 2024 Programs

Undergraduate

  • Bachelor of Arts Programs: 39
  • Bachelor of Science Programs: 34
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts: 3
  • BA and BS Options (within the major): 72
  • Minors: 112

Graduate

  • Master of Arts Programs: 13
  • Master of Science Programs: 14
  • Master of Business Administration: 2
  • Master of Fine Arts: 1
  • Master of Public Administration: 1
  • Master of Social Work: 1
  • MA, MS, MBA, and MPA Options (within the program): 17

Certificates and Credentials

  • Certificate Programs: 29
  • Professional Education Credential Programs: 10

Other Programs

  • Pre-Professional advising in dental hygiene, dentistry, forensic science, forestry, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, theology, and veterinary medicine
  • The Honors Program offers special opportunities for motivated undergraduate students with high grade point averages. These opportunities range from specially designed courses in general education (Honors in General Education Program) and in selected majors (Honors in the Major Program) to many honors societies that students can join.
  • Chico State is accredited by the Western Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as a number of professional associations covering all seven colleges.

Explore Majors and Programs

Centers and Institutes

Philanthropic Support

(2023–24)

Donor Gifts and Pledges: $21,232,809
Total Individual Donors: 8,603
Total Endowment: $99.9 million

Chico State's History

The Mechoopda people were the original inhabitants of the area, which was later issued as the Rancho Arroyo Chico land grant to William Dickey in 1845. General John Bidwell, founder of Chico, subsequently bought the grant. In 1887, Bidwell donated eight acres of cherry orchard, and construction began on Chico State Normal School. The campus opened in 1889 with 90 students and five faculty members. The first class of teachers graduated in June 1891. Chico State Normal School became Chico State Teachers College in 1921. The legislature converted its teachers colleges to state colleges in 1935, and Chico State Teachers College became Chico State College. In 1972, the college became California State University, Chico. The University continues to shares it rich history with the Mechoopda people, who have contributed to Chico and the University for generations. The campus stands on their sacred traditional lands, providing an opportunity for today's students to pursue education in this beautiful place. Chico State continues to rely on the expertise of the Mechoopda people to preserve their heritage and move the campus forward in partnership.

Chico Geographical Facts

  • Chico is 90 miles north of Sacramento.
  • Chico is 174 miles northeast of San Francisco.
  • Chico is 8 miles from the Sacramento River.
  • Chico is 2 miles from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.
  • Bidwell Park has a total of 3,670 acres, making it one of the largest municipal parks in the United States.
  • Chico is 230 feet above sea level.
  • Chico has an average of 249 clear days in a typical year.
  • Average annual rainfall is 28 inches.
  • Population of Butte County (2022 estimate) is  207,303.
  • Population density of Butte County is approximately 129 persons per square mile, compared to 254 for the state of California.

Chico Community

City of Chico Government : City Council and City Manager

Date of City Incorporation: January 8, 1872

Chico City Population (2022 estimate):  101,299

General: Chico is a consummate college town, with an abundance of cultural and recreational resources in combination with a small-town feel. The city has strived to maintain its strong sense of community, while simultaneously establishing itself as a dynamic regional center for business, education, recreation, and culture.Over the years, Chico has garnered recognition among the “Best Places in America” by Forbes magazine, the “Best Places to Retire” by U.S. News & World Report. Its dedication to the environment has landed acknowledgment as the “Best Green Places to Live” by Country Home Magazine, and active lifestyle heralded by TIME magazine's "Top 10 Cities in the Nation Where People Exercise the Most," Outdoor's "Best Towns," and  Bicycle's  “America's Best Bike Town."

Visit Chico for a firsthand look at the unique Chico experience. For a look at the major achievements of faculty, students, and alumni, check out our  Chico State Today.