Cost of Attendance

2026-27 Cost of Attendance

Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of what it typically costs to attend Chico State for one academic year (9 months). It’s meant to help you plan for college—not a bill you have to pay.

The COA includes:

• Direct costs paid to Chico State, like tuition and fees
• Estimated indirect costs, like housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses

Every college has its own COA based on local costs. When you compare schools, you may find that Chico State has a more affordable cost of living than many other college towns.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower depending on your major, residency status, living situation, personal spending, or veteran benefits. You may be able to spend less by having roommates, eating out less, or walking, biking, or taking the bus—local buses are free for Chico State students.

Keep in mind: these are estimates for a typical student. Your costs may be different, so think about what applies to you and plan accordingly.

For 2025-26 Cost of Attendance, view our financial aid cost page.

Undergraduate Costs

Graduate Costs

The data used to create the Chico State cost of attendance was based on average expenses reported by Chico State students in their responses to the California Student Aid Commission’s Student Expense and Resources Survey (SEARS). Amounts are adjusted for the appropriate California Consumer Price Index (CCPI). As required by federal regulations, the higher amount for actual mean or median cost of living on campus is used for the on-campus cost of attendance. 

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Appeals

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.

About COA Living Expenses

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.

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.

Footnotes

_(1a)Undergraduate budget chart is for a 9-month academic year and reflects the actual cost for full-time tuition and mandatory campus 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 $321 per unit per semester for the in-person campus MBA and for the MS in Business Analytics.

₍₃₎ Living Expenses - Food: The Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry is part of our Basic Needs resources. Our food pantry combats food insecurity by providing a wide assortment of nutritious food products to Chico State students and staff. They specialize in the distribution of local, farm-direct, organic produce and foods. 

₍₄₎Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) fees: WUE students pay 150% of the State University Tuition Fee and 100% of the campus fees. The undergraduate WUE additional tuition fees noted above represent the additional 50% of the tuition for 12 units. Calculation used in this table: 

• Undergraduate tuition + additional 50% tuition = $10,258 for fall and spring semester.
• Campus mandatory fees = $2,506 for fall and spring semester.

₍₅₎ Non–Resident/International student fees are calculated by multiplying $471 per unit with the number of full-time units (12 units for undergraduate and 8 units for postbaccalaureate).

• Undergraduate:
  • tuition for 12 units is $6,838 + ($471 x 12 units x 2 semesters) = $18,142 for fall and spring semester
  • Mandatory campus fees = $2,506 for fall and spring
• Postbaccalaureate:
  • Tuition for 8 units is $8,368 + ($471 x 8 units x 2 semesters) = $15,904 for fall and spring semester.
  • Mandatory campus fees = $2,506 for fall and spring semester

Back to cost table

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).