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: 22 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: $261 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: 189,291
• Accreditation: Chico State is accredited by the Western Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as a number of professional associations covering all seven colleges.

Students

(Fall 2025)

Full-Time Equivalent students 13,821
(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 14,823

• Freshmen: 2,797 (19%)
• Sophomores: 2,109 (14%)
• Juniors: 3,862 (26%)
• Seniors: 4,831 (33%)
• Postbaccalaureate Students: 1,224 (8%)

Age

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

Ethnicity

• American Indian/Alaskan Native: 0.5%
• Asian: 5.1%
• Black/African American: 2.8%
• Hispanic/Latino: 38.5%
• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.2%
• White: 41.7%
• Two or More Races/Ethnicities: 5.6%
• Unkown/Declined to State: 4.1%

Student Diversity Demographics

Student Profile

Our students come from 73 nations and 36 states. 97% of the total student population comes from California: 28.3% from Chico State's service area; 11% from the Sacramento Area; 20% from the San Francisco Bay Area; 19% from the Los Angeles area; and 18.5% from the rest of California. The remaining 3% are out-of-state (1.5%) or international (1.4%) students.

Freshman Profile
Average High School GPA: 3.52 (admits) / 3.39 (enrolled)

Ten Largest Majors

Based on current number of students officially declaring majors.

1. Business Administration 1,895
2. Psychology 948
3. Liberal Studies 781
4. Pre-Nursing 644
5. Sociology 566
6. Construction Management 558
7. Social Work 465
8. Animal Science 465
9. Computer Science 427
10. Criminal Justice 392

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.

• Business Administration 568
• Psychology 264
• Liberal Studies 240
• Sociology 198
• Criminal Justice 101
• Social Work 92
• Social Science 84
• Public Health 84
• Construction Management 83
• Animal Science 78

Faculty & Staff Stats

*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: 0.6%
• Asian: 8.9%
• Black/African American: 1.3%
• Hispanic/Latino: 7.9%
• White: 71%
• Two or More Ethnicities: 2.2%
• Not Specified: 5.8%

Ethnicity - Staff

• American Indian/Alaska Native: 1.1%
• Asian: 5.4%
• Black/African American: 3%
• Hispanic/Latino: 17.7%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Island: 0.3%
• White: 64.9%
• Two or More Ethnicities: 2.6%
• 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 and 5 schools:

• College of Agriculture
• College of Natural Sciences
  • School of Nursing
• College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
  • School of Social Work
• College of Business
• College of Communication and Education
  • School of Communication
  • School of Education
• College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Construction Management
• College of Humanities and Fine Arts
  • School of the Arts

2025–26 Academic Programs

Undergraduate

• Bachelor of Arts Programs: 39
• Bachelor of Fine Arts: 3
• Bachelor of Science Programs: 34
• BA, BFA, and BS Options (within the major): 84
• Minors: 120

Graduate

• Master of Arts Programs: 11
• Master of Science Programs: 16
• 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): 14

Certificates and Credentials

• Certificate Programs: 31
• 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.

Explore Majors and Programs

Centers and Institutes

• Agribusiness Institute
• Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve
• California Mechatronics Center
• California Pavement Preservation Center
• Center for Bilingual/Multicultural Studies
• Center for Enterprise Systems and Informatics Research (CESR) and SAP University Competence Center (UCC)
• Center for Entrepreneurship
• Center for Healthy Communities (CHC)
• Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems (CRARS)
• Chico State Herbarium
• Gateway Science Museum
• Janet Turner Print Museum
• Northeast Information Center (NEIC)
• North State Planning and Development Collective (NSPDC)
  • Center for Economic Development
  • Geographical Information Center
• Passages Adult Resource Center
• Rural Northern California Clinical Simulation Center (Sim Center)
• Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology

Philanthropic Support

(2024–25)

• Donor Gifts and Pledges: $16,457,311
• Total Individual Donors: 8,159
• Total Endowment: $111 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.

Chico Community

City of Chico Government: City Council and City Manager

Date of City Incorporation: January 8, 1872

Chico City Population (2023 estimate): 107,394

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.