Cost of Attendance
The cost of attendance (COA) is a yearly estimate of all expenses associated with higher education, and can help you plan for college. Estimates below represent the typical cost for a student to attend Chico State for a 9-month period. Each institution has its own COA, reflecting the specific expenses associated with attending that particular campus. 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 estimated expenses (not payable to Chico State), like personal expenses and transportation.
Your actual cost of attendance will vary depending on your program, residency status, your specific personal living arrangements and costs, and if you have veterans benefits. Consider how your own costs might differ. Will you budget carefully and spend less than the estimates? Will you face other costs that are not listed? You can reduce expenses by having roommates, eating out less frequently, and commuting to campus by foot, bike or public transportation - local buses are free to Chico State students.
Note:
All cost estimates reflect estimated costs for a typical student, but actual costs can vary considerably for individual students.
The university strongly encourages prospective students and their families to consider how their own costs might differ from those given in the estimates, including by seeking out cost of attendance estimates from other sources and by considering whether they will face other costs that are not listed in the estimate categories or considering how their veteran status might affect costs.
2025-26:
| Expense | Off-Campus (California Resident) | On-Campus (California Resident) | With Relatives (California Resident) | WUE 12 Units Off-Campus(4) | Non-Resident 12 units Off-Campus(5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (2) | $6,450 | $6,450 | $6,450 | $9,675 | $17,106 |
| Mandatory Campus Fees (2) | $2,446 | $2,446 | $2,446 | $2,446 | $2,446 |
| Books / Supplies | $1,122 | $1,122 | $1,122 | $1,122 | $1,122 |
| Living Expenses (Housing) | $6,435 | $8,726 | $3,345 | $6,435 | $6,435 |
| Living Expenses (Food) (3) | $5,661 | $7,942 | $5,661 | $5,661 | $5,661 |
| Transportation | $1,850 | $740 | $2,246 | $1,850 | $1,850 |
| Personal Expenses | $3,098 | $2,336 | $2,470 | $3,098 | $3,098 |
| TOTAL | $27,062 | $29,762 | $23,740 | $30,287 | $37,718 |
| Expense | Off-Campus (California Resident) | On-Campus (California Resident) | With Relatives (California Resident) | Non-Resident 8 units Off-Campus(5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (2) | $7,886 | $7,886 | $7,886 | $14,990 |
| Mandatory Campus Fees (2) | $2,446 | $2,446 | $2,446 | $2,446 |
| Books / Supplies | $1,122 | $1,122 | $1,122 | $1,122 |
| Living Expenses (Housing) | $6,435 | $8,726 | $3,345 | $6,435 |
| Living Expenses (Food) (3) | $5,661 | $7,942 | $5,661 | $5,661 |
| Transportation | $1,850 | $740 | $2,246 | $1,850 |
| Personal Expenses | $3,098 | $2,336 | $2,470 | $3,098 |
| TOTAL | $28,498 | $31,198 | $25,176 | $35,602 |
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 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.
(2) Tuition is are based on full–time enrollment. Mandatory Campus Fees are the same for all students. All fees are subject to change based on Board of Trustees action. See Student Financial Services for fees and deadlines. There is an additional $303 per unit per semester for MBA and for MS in Accountancy, Business Administration, Health Care Management, Business and Technology, Information Systems, and Taxation.
(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 tuition and 100% of the mandatory campus fees. The Undergrad WUE additional fees noted above represent the additional 50% of the tuition for 12 units. Calculation used above for 2025-26:
- Undergraduate tuition = 6,450 + additional 50% tuition of $3,225 = $9,675 for fall and spring semester.
- Campus mandatory fees = $2,446 for fall and spring semester.
(5) Non–Resident/International student fees are calculated by multiplying $444 per unit with the number of full-time units (12 units for undergraduate and 8 units for postbaccalaureate).
- 2025-26 Undergraduate calculation used above:
- Tuition for 12 units is $6,450 + ($444 x 12 units x 2 semesters) = $17,106 for fall and spring semester
- Mandatory campus fees = $2,446 for fall and spring
- 2025-26 Postbaccalaureate calculation used above:
- Tuition for 8 units is $7,886 + ($444 x 8 units x 2 semesters) = $6,720 for a total of $14,990 for fall and spring semester.
- Mandatory campus fees = $2,446 for fall and spring semester
Data Collection
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. The final amount is adjusted to ensure students living in on-campus options have access to at least 3 meals a day.
On-Campus Living Expenses (food/housing)
The above on-campus food and housing rates 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 and SB467 Information - Housing Costs Near Chico State Campus:
- 1 bedroom: $1,125
- 2 bedroom: $1,460
- 2 bedrooms - renting room: $730
- 3 bedrooms - renting room: $682
- 4 bedrooms - renting room: $614
(Data source - HUD 2025 Small Area Fair Market Rents within a 5-mile radius of CSU campuses)
Housing cost estimates are 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 for housing. Most students share an apartment to reduce their housing cost.
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.
Net Price Calculator
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. See our Net Price Calculator webpage for more information.
Appeals(opens in new window)
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(opens in new window) options available to assist students in these situations.
Videos for Parents
See our video library for lots of other helpful financial aid videos!
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).
For an estimated moderate standard of living budget, please refer to the Chico State Cost of Attendance.