A Chico State education is more affordable than most other four-year colleges. And with low cost of living and supportive financial aid options, your dreams are ready to become reality.
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
Phone: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Lobby: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Weekdays (M,W,Th,F), closed Tuesdays
Location: Student Services Center 250
Phone: 530-898-6451
“Affordability” is in the eye of the beholder. But almost everybody agrees: A Chico State education is among the best values in higher education. Our stats are a reflection not just of our accessible cost of attendance but also how far a Chico State degree takes our graduates.
For return on investment among 2,000 US colleges
A bachelor’s degree is one of the best ways to increase your lifetime income. Maximize your ROI by spending less on tuition.
Average grant or scholarship aid awarded
Chico State students receive an average of $10,331 a year in grants and scholarships (free money!)—so you can focus on your future, not loan repayment plans.
Chico State students receiving financial aid
If you’re convinced college is out of reach, think again: Financial aid can bring it closer. And applying for aid is free—so apply!
For return on investment among 2,000 US colleges
A bachelor’s degree is one of the best ways to increase your lifetime income. Maximize your ROI by spending less on tuition.
Average grant or scholarship aid awarded
Chico State students receive an average of $10,331 a year in grants and scholarships (free money!)—so you can focus on your future, not loan repayment plans.
Chico State students receiving financial aid
If you’re convinced college is out of reach, think again: Financial aid can bring it closer. And applying for aid is free—so apply!
When you’re thinking about how to pay for college, the first question that may come to mind—“How much is tuition?”—is just a part of the story. Your total cost of attendance includes everything that’s part of your education: Not just tuition but also fees, food and housing, books and supplies, and personal expenses such as travel to and from campus.
The amount you’ll pay in tuition and fees varies, depending on your student type and how many class units you take each semester. These costs represent two semesters—your tuition and fees for a full year.
| Student Type | 0-6 units per semester (x2) | 6.1+ units per semester (x2) |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $5,920 | $8,476 |
| Credential | $6,490 | $9,454 |
| Graduate | $6,808 | $10,000 |
Additional fees are required for non-resident (out-of-state & international) and on-campus MBA students.
Through Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), students in western states, including Alaska and Hawaii, may enroll in many four-year college programs outside of their home state at a reduced fee level: 150 percent of the institution’s regular resident tuition. This amount is considerably less than non-resident tuition.
Your costs for room and board are estimates based on whether you live on- or off-campus and the type of meal plan (if any) you get on campus. For students living off campus, you can save money by eating more at home and having roommates.
Off Campus: $11,644
On Campus: $16,500
With Relatives: $8,666
These housing rates are averages and are used by the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office for the purpose of packaging financial aid. Review current on-campus housing and dining rates and explore off-campus housing options for more information.
In addition to books and supplies, you may have transportation expenses (to go home on break, for example) as well as various personal expenses. With careful budgeting, you can control these expenses, so they can vary based on each student’s needs. Visit Cost of Attendance for some estimates.
Chico State is one of few truly residential campuses in the CSU system, nestled in a community you can afford to be a part of.
Lower Cost of Living
In Chico, you’ll manage to save more while avoiding high housing and transportation costs found in places like the Bay Area and LA.
Lower Rent
Your apartment will cost less than the average place in California, so you can put those rent checks toward your future.
Transportation Costs for Many
About 80% of students live within walking or biking distance of campus. Going further? Students can ride the B-Line buses for free!
Lower Cost of Living
In Chico, you’ll manage to save more while avoiding high housing and transportation costs found in places like the Bay Area and LA.
Lower Rent
Your apartment will cost less than the average place in California, so you can put those rent checks toward your future.
Transportation Costs for Many
About 80% of students live within walking or biking distance of campus. Going further? Students can ride the B-Line buses for free!
Every year, Chico State students receive over $131 million in aid. Even if you think your family has too much money to qualify, we encourage you to apply: Many students are eligible for the California Middle Class Scholarship and low-interest loans. We’ll walk you through the process.
Chico State offers hundreds of need- and merit-based scholarships. Don’t miss out: Even if you don’t think you’ll qualify, we encourage all students to apply.
These awards do not need to be repaid. They reduce the amount of money you need to pay at the start of each semester.
Students who demonstrate financial need can earn money to cover their educational expenses with a Federal Work-Study job. These jobs accommodate student schedules.
Loans are financial aid that must be repaid once the student graduates or stops attending school. Low-interest federal student loans are available to most students; other possible sources are private loans and loans for parents, for those who qualify.
When you submit your FAFSA or CADAA, you may be considered for the Middle Class Scholarship. It is open to California residents who meet academic, financial, and other requirements.
Veterans, individuals with disabilities, foster youth, and others may qualify for additional sources of financial aid.
The first step to financial aid is filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA), if you’re an undocumented or DACA student. The process is easy—you and/or your family will just need to provide basic income information.
Waiting to see how much financial aid you might receive can be stressful. But our Net Price Calculator can give you an estimate before you even file a FAFSA or CADAA, using some basic information about your family’s finances.
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, the 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).
For an estimated moderate standard of living budget, please refer to the Chico State Cost of Attendance.
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
Phone: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Lobby: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Weekdays (M,W,Th,F), closed Tuesdays
Location: Student Services Center 250
Phone: 530-898-6451