Get a top-ranked education at an exceptional value.
Ranked among the top 10% of colleges in America and the top public universities in the West, at Chico State, you'll find the opportunities of a nationally recognized public university in a community where professors know your goals and opportunities are within reach. Build experience through research, internships, and applied projects while earning a high-value degree designed to take you where you want to go next.
At Chico State, ranked among the best public colleges, you’ll get the resources of a comprehensive university with greater access to professors and experiences that let you apply what you learn. Undergraduate research, internships, faculty mentorship, and an affordable CSU education help prepare you for careers, graduate study, and life after college.
Your professors will know more than your name—they’ll get to know your goals. Smaller classes make it easier to ask questions, build relationships, and explore new ideas. You can take your learning further through faculty-led research, internships, and applied projects that connect your education to the real world. The Carnegie Foundation recognizes our approach as a model for student success.
Whether you’re the first in your family to attend college, or ready to launch your career, you’ll find the support you need.
Your college education is an investment in your future. At Chico State, you’ll get a high-quality education and graduate with less debt in a community where your money can go further. You’ll graduate with knowledge, experience, and a professional network that can open doors long after college— and without the large burden of loan debt.
Chico State also offers online degree and degree-completion programs ranked #5 in the US, designed for students who need greater flexibility. Whether you’re balancing work, family, or distance from Chico, online programs provide another way to earn a respected Chico State degree while developing career-ready skills without relocating.
Whether you’re coming to Chico from across the state, across the country, or already call the area home, college is a chance to find your place in a new way. If you’re moving away from home, you won’t be doing it alone—students come from different places, backgrounds, and experiences, and have plenty of opportunities to find their people and build a sense of belonging. And if you’re already local, you can stay close to family and familiar places while discovering new sides of your community. Connect through student organizations, activities, and events, then explore everything just beyond campus, from downtown Chico to the trails of Bidwell Park. Here, you can make new friendships while creating a college experience that feels like your own.
At Chico State, sustainability is part of your educational backdrop. Big Chico Creek winds through a tree-filled campus, while the University Farm, ecological reserves, state-of-the-art science labs, and regenerative agriculture programs turn Chico and the surrounding area into a living laboratory for experiential learning, research, and innovation. That commitment has earned Chico State recognition in The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges and a #5 ranking among master’s institutions in AASHE’s 2025 Sustainable Campus Index. Here, students learn in an environment where sustainable practices, environmental stewardship, and real-world solutions are woven into the college experience.
You don’t have to wait until graduation to start building your career. Classroom learning connects with professional experience through internships, faculty-led research, industry projects, and mentorship. These experiences help you develop career-ready skills, build a professional network, and prepare for employment or graduate study.
Chico State earns national recognition among public colleges in California and beyond for academic quality, value, student experience, and graduate outcomes. What matters most is what those distinctions mean for you—a high-quality education you can afford, professors invested in your success, career-building experiences, and a degree that opens doors for you and your family.
Top Public Schools
Earn your degree from a nationally recognized public university committed to academic quality and student success, as reflected in its U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Best Value
Receive a high-quality education from a university ranked by U.S. News & World Report, for a strong return on investment that makes your degree a smart choice for your future.
Master's Universities in the US
Access strong academic programs and research designed to prepare you for graduate school or your career, backed by Washington Monthly’s national rankings.
Best Colleges
Join a university recognized by Money for providing a college experience that delivers quality, value, and strong career outcomes.
Social Mobility
Your education can create opportunities beyond your first job, helping you build economic mobility and expand what’s possible for you and your family—an impact reflected in CollegeNET’s Social Mobility Index.
Best Online Colleges and Universities
Recognized by College Consensus, online students can access a high-quality, flexible education designed to help them earn a degree wherever they are.
At Chico State, you’ll turn your education into experience through field experience, faculty-led research, internships, and meaningful connections with professors and peers. You’ll build experience, confidence, and a professional network that can lead to internships, graduate study, and rewarding careers.
Chico State alum Consuelo Báez Vega (Agriculture, ’22) arrived expecting to earn her degree and return home. Encouragement from Professor Anna Medic led her to research at the University Farm, field trials, and a conference presentation. She now pursues a master’s degree focused on regenerative agriculture.
Interior architecture student Jesse Gard has gained valuable professional experience through faculty guidance, hands-on coursework, and an internship with Design SI. His work has contributed to residential, museum, and inclusive design projects—building the skills and confidence to take learning beyond the classroom.
First-generation Mexican American transfer student Joana Camarena chose Chico State for career preparation and internship support. With faculty guidance and involvement in Accounting Society and Beta Alpha Psi, she built connections that led to a competitive KPMG internship—and a full-time position.
Why choose Chico State over a larger university? Smaller classes mean greater access to faculty, mentorship, and hands-on learning at a university recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for annual research spending—opening doors to research, internships, graduate study, and careers.
For alumnus Weston Sousa (Mechanical Engineering, ’90), close faculty relationships led to a senior project and robotics internship—experiences that prepared him for graduate study at Stanford and a successful engineering career. Now a KLA vice president, Sousa continues to hire Chico State graduates for their versatility.
Professor Logan Smith, recipient of the 2025–26 Outstanding Research Mentor Award, has guided 12 undergraduate research assistants. His program has provided more than $93,000 in salaries and fellowships, opening paid research opportunities for students while supporting grants, summer programs, and fellowships.
Associate Professor Jianliang Hao brings real-world decision-making into operations, supply chain management, and business analytics courses through data-driven assignments and live case studies. He also mentors students in research, helping them build practical skills, confidence, and preparation for careers or advanced study.
At Chico State, campus and community come together to create a college experience where it’s easy to get involved and feel connected. Walk from class to downtown, meet friends at a local café, attend an evening event, or explore nearby Bidwell Park.
That accessibility means less time commuting and more time building friendships, joining organizations, pursuing research, attending events, and experiencing everything college has to offer.
Your cost of college goes beyond tuition. Chico’s overall cost of living is approximately 26% lower than the California average, and you can enjoy accessible housing costs with average rent at about 46% lower than the statewide average.
Most students live close enough to walk, bike, or ride the B-Line buses for free, helping reduce transportation costs.
Your Chico State experience extends beyond campus. Internships with local employers, community-based research, volunteering, and service-learning projects let you put your education into practice while building a professional network. That commitment to working alongside communities earned Chico State the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement.
College is an investment in your education and future earning potential. At Chico State, lower overall cost through financial aid and manageable living costs come together to help you earn a degree with lasting value—without taking on unnecessary debt. That value is nationally recognized, with Washington Monthly ranking Chico State #56 in its 2025 “Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars” list.
How quickly can a Chico State degree pay off? According to the HEA Group, Chico State students can recoup the cost of their education after just 1.3 years in the workforce.
That return is strengthened by an education designed to prepare students for meaningful careers and long-term success. It’s why Chico State stands out as a smart investment—and why the University ranks #11 among Best Value Colleges in California.
The published cost of attendance may not be what you actually pay. At Chico State, 75% of students receive financial aid, and students receive an average of $11,529 per year in grants and scholarships.
Because grants and scholarships generally don’t need to be repaid, they can lower your out-of-pocket costs—and reduce how much you may need to borrow. Chico State’s commitment to keeping college within reach has also earned it a #4 ranking among the Most Affordable Colleges in California.
Chico State is nationally recognized for affordability, with graduates carrying an average of just $16,552 in debt.
Less debt can mean more choices after graduation. You can put more of your income toward building your life—whether that means starting your career, pursuing an advanced degree, buying a home, or reaching another goal.
CSU tuition, financial aid and scholarships, and manageable housing costs help keep the overall cost of earning your degree within reach. A Chico apartment can cost about half as much as the average California one-bedroom—and sharing with a roommate can make it even more affordable. Along with Chico’s walkable college-town setting, these advantages make it easy to see why Chico State ranks #11 among the Most Affordable Colleges in the West.
Most students can walk, bike, or use public transportation to get to class, work, and activities—making it easier to get around without the added expense of a car. For students in eligible online programs, earning a Chico State degree without relocating can provide additional flexibility in managing work, family, and living expenses.
The value of a Chico State education isn’t simply what you spend to earn your degree. It’s what your education helps you achieve.
With manageable costs, career-ready experiences, and comparatively low student debt, you can graduate ready to start your career and pursue your goals. Chico State has been recognized specifically for access, affordability, and outcomes in the Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars: West.
Chico State’s impact extends far beyond the return students see from their degrees—it delivers a significant return for California. When alumni earnings are included, Chico State generates $6.83 billion in industry activity statewide, supports more than 32,300 jobs, produces $2.31 billion in labor income for alumni, and contributes more than $533 million in tax revenue. These outcomes demonstrate how investing in Chico State students strengthens California’s workforce, economy, and communities long after graduation.
Yes. Chico State ranks among the top 10% of U.S. colleges and is a Carnegie-designated research university. Students can pursue undergraduate research, work with faculty in specialized labs, and choose from programs spanning engineering, business, agriculture, health, the arts, and more.
For many students, yes. About 75% of Chico State students receive financial aid, with an average of $11,529 annually in grants and scholarships. Graduates leave with a median federal student loan debt of $16,552, helping keep the long-term cost of a degree manageable.
Chico State blends campus life with a true college town. Downtown Chico is steps from campus, and nearby Bidwell Park offers miles of trails and outdoor recreation. Students can get involved in 200+ organizations while living, studying, working, and socializing in a highly walkable community.
Chico State students recoup their college costs in about 1.3 years after entering the workforce, according to HEA Group analysis. Washington Monthly also ranked Chico State No. 27 nationally among its 2025 Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars.
Chico State graduates enter careers in business and accounting, engineering and technology, education, health care, agriculture, construction, and public service. Many programs connect directly to established industries, preparing graduates for professional roles in California and beyond.
No. Selectivity and academic quality measure different things. Chico State expands access while earning national recognition for outcomes: Washington Monthly places it in the top 1% of U.S. master’s universities, and the Carnegie Foundation has recognized Chico State for student opportunity and research activity.
Community college can cost less upfront, but starting at Chico State can put you on a more direct four-year path to a bachelor’s degree—and your career. Because many community college students take longer than two years to transfer, starting at Chico State may help you graduate and begin earning a full-time salary sooner.
Chico’s overall cost of living is about 26% below the California average, and average one-bedroom rent is about 46% below the statewide average. Many students can also walk or bike to campus or ride B-Line buses fare-free, reducing the need to pay for daily driving and parking.
Chico State stands out for value, sustainability, social mobility, and academic opportunity. It ranks in the top 1% of U.S. master’s universities, top 6% nationally for social mobility, and No. 5 among master’s institutions in AASHE’s 2025 Sustainable Campus Index.
Chico State alumni lead teams, hire Wildcats, and work across major industries. The Chico State Career Center connects students with employers and career opportunities, with graduates reporting an average starting salary of $64,882.
First-generation Wildcats can access advising, tutoring, financial aid, career services, and programs like the Educational Opportunity Program. The REACH Student Success Center supports incoming first-year students through their college journey, while transfer students like Joana Camarena have used campus connections and recruiting opportunities to secure internships and launch careers.
Transfer students don’t have to start over at Chico State. You’ll join other transfers bringing different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that add texture to your college experience. With 200+ student organizations, academic programs, career events, and support services, you’ll have plenty of ways to connect and find your place.