Financial aid can be complicated, even if you’ve been through the process before. That’s OK—we’re here to help, from completing your aid applications to going through the details of your financial aid offer. Give us a call or send an email, and we’ll answer any of your questions.
Open Hours
Weekdays (M,W,Th,F), closed Tuesdays
Phone: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Lobby: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Location: Student Services Center 250
Phone: 530-898-6451
The cost of attendance (COA) is a yearly estimate of all expenses associated with higher education, and it helps students plan for college. Each college has its own COA, reflecting the specific expenses associated with attending that particular institution. Compare Chico State's COA with expenses at other colleges. You may find that Chico offers a more affordable cost of living compared to many other college towns.
The COA is not a bill and it is for informational purposes only. Costs include both direct expenses payable to Chico State, such as tuition and fees, and indirect expenses that are not payable to Chico State, like personal expenses and transportation. Your actual costs will vary based on your circumstances and the individual decisions you make. Costs may be lower if you budget wisely. Students can reduce expenses by having roommates, eating out less frequently, and commuting to campus by foot, bike or public transportation.
The estimated COA provided below represents a moderate standard of living for full-time students at Chico State over a nine-month academic year, with one semester's expenses being half the amounts listed.
| Expense | Off-Campus (California Resident) | On-Campus (California Resident) | With Relatives (California Resident) | WUE 12 Units On-Campus (3) | Non-Resident 12 units On-Campus (4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition / Fees (2) | $8,472 | $8,472 | $8,472 | $11,514 | $18,552 |
| Books / Supplies | $1,096 | $1,096 | $1,096 | $1,096 | $1,096 |
| Food/ Housing | $11,644 | $16,500 | $8,666 | $16,500 | $16,500 |
| Transportation | $1,852 | $740 | $2,410 | $740 | $740 |
| Personal Expenses | $3,024 | $2,280 | $2,318 | $2,280 | $2,280 |
| TOTAL | $26,088 | $29,088 | $22,962 | $32,130 | $39,168 |
| Expense | Off-Campus (California Resident) | On-Campus (California Resident) | With Relatives (California Resident) | Non-Resident 8 units On-Campus (4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition / Fees (2) | $9,828 | $9,828 | $9,828 | $16,548 |
| Books / Supplies | $1,096 | $1,096 | $1,096 | $1,096 |
| Food/ Housing | $11,644 | $16,500 | $8,666 | $16,500 |
| Transportation | $1,852 | $740 | $2,410 | $740 |
| Personal Expenses | $3,024 | $2,280 | $2,318 | $2,280 |
| TOTAL | $27,444 | $30,444 | $24,318 | $37,164 |
(1a)Undergraduate budget chart is for a 9-month academic year and reflects the actual cost for tuition and fees. Books/supplies are averaged estimates. The costs for food/housing, transportation, and personal expenses are averaged estimates that vary by student depending on their living arrangements.
(1b)Postbaccalaureate budget chart is for a 9-month academic year and reflects weighted averages of actual Credential and Graduate tuition and fees. Books/supplies are averaged estimates. The costs for food/housing, transportation, and personal expenses are averaged estimates that vary by student depending on their living arrangements.
(2) Tuition/Fees are based on full–time enrollment. All fees are subject to change based on Board of Trustees action. See Student Financial Services for fees and deadlines. There is an additional $285 per unit per semester for MBA and for MS in Accountancy, Business Administration, Health Care Management, Business and Technology, Information Systems, and Taxation.
(3)Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) fees: WUE students pay 150% of the State University Tuition Fee and 100% of the campus fees. The Undergrad WUE additional fees noted above represent the additional 50% of the tuition for 12 units. Calculation used in this table: Undergraduate tuition and fees for 12 units = $8,472 plus additional 50% tuition ($6,084/2) = $3,042 = $11,514 for fall and spring semester.
(4) Non–Resident/International student fees are calculated by multiplying $420 per unit with the number of full-time units (12 units for undergraduate and 8 units for postbaccalaureate).
Each college calculates its own Cost of Attendance (COA) or student budget. At Chico State, the student budget is based on the estimated cost of a typical student's tuition fees, books and supplies, food and housing, transportation, and personal expenses for a nine–month academic year (fall and spring semesters). The COA will vary depending on:
Knowing the Cost of Attendance is important because the budget helps determine your Financial Need and your financial aid offer. Financial Need is defined as the difference between your Student Aid Index and the standard Cost of Attendance calculated for each academic year. This is an important point of comparison between colleges.
Use the Net Price Calculator to receive a rough estimate of your eligibility for grants and need-based loans. This calculator assists you in estimating your costs after taking into account your need-based financial aid eligibility.
Videos for FamiliesSee our video library for lots of other helpful financial aid videos!
Watch Financial Aid Information for Parents
Students and their families may face situations where the FAFSA or CADAA information does not accurately reflect their current ability to pay for college. Other students may have experienced extenuating circumstances that prevented them from meeting satisfactory academic progress. There are a variety of appeal options available to assist students in these situations.
The on-campus food and housing rates in our Cost of Attendance table are averages and are used by the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office for the purpose of packaging financial aid. Actual on-campus food and housing rates are available at University Housing.
AB990 Information (average cost of a one bedroom apartment around the Chico State campus)
The average cost to rent a one bedroom apartment within the areas surrounding the Chico State campus is $857. This information is updated yearly on February 1st. It is important to understand the above average cost is for rent only and does not include cost of food, utilities, garbage, rental deposit, and other necessary expenses to rent an apartment.
Our Off-Campus cost of attendance for food and housing is an average amount for a 9-month period. Most students usually share an apartment to reduce their cost of food and housing. For more information about off-campus housing and services provided by the university for students living off-campus, see Off Campus Student Services.
For additional information on how Cost of Attendance helps determine your financial aid offer, see Understanding Your Award.
Disclaimer: The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. Fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. Therefore, CSU must reserve the right, even after fees are initially charged or initial fee payments are made, to increase or modify any listed fees. All listed fees, other than mandatory systemwide fees, are subject to change without notice, until the date when instruction for a particular semester or quarter has begun. All CSU listed fees should be regarded as estimates that are subject to change upon approval by the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor, or the Presidents, as appropriate. Changes in mandatory systemwide fees will be made in accordance with the requirements of the Working Families Student Fee Transparency and Accountability Act (Sections 66028 - 66028.6 of the Education Code).
Financial aid can be complicated, even if you’ve been through the process before. That’s OK—we’re here to help, from completing your aid applications to going through the details of your financial aid offer. Give us a call or send an email, and we’ll answer any of your questions.
Open Hours
Weekdays (M,W,Th,F), closed Tuesdays
Phone: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Lobby: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Location: Student Services Center 250
Phone: 530-898-6451
We acknowledge and are mindful that Chico State stands on lands that were originally occupied by the first people of this area, the Mechoopda, and we recognize their distinctive spiritual relationship with this land, the flora, the fauna, and the waters that run through campus. We are humbled that our campus resides upon sacred lands that since time immemorial have sustained the Mechoopda people and continue to do so today.