Department & Program Scholarships
Scholarships, Awards and Grants
You can apply for most of these scholarships through the Wildcat Scholarship application, open each year from January 1 through February 15. Check with your department or program to determine if they have other opportunities that require a separate applications. If your department is not listed here, do check with them to see if they offer scholarships.
- Adventure Outings
- Agriculture
- Biological Sciences
- CSU System-Wide - also, see below
- Child Development
- College of Business - MBA Program
- College of Engineering, Computer Science & Construction Management
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Science
- Concrete Industry Management
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing
- MESA Engineering Program/Chico STEM Connections Collaborative
- College of Humanities and Fine Arts:
- Art & Art History
- Comparative Religion & Humanities
- English
- History
- Language and Cultures
- Music, Theatre, and Dance
- Philosophy
- Economics(opens in new window)
- Education
- Geography & Environmental Studies
- Graduate Studies
- Kinesiology
- Mathematics & Statistics
- Multicultural & Gender Studies
- NCAA/Student Athletes - see below
- Natural Sciences
- Non-Resident Scholarship (Western Undergraduate Exchange)
- Nursing Scholarships
- Nutrition & Food Science
- Physics
- Political Science & Criminal Justice
- Public Health & Health Services Administration
- Psychology
- Recreation, Hospitality and Parks
- Science Education(opens in new window)
- Social Science
- Sociology
Academic & Performance
Academic and Performance (A&P) Recruitment scholarships are merit or talent-based scholarships. The first time admit student recipients are selected by the Enrollment Management Committee at Chico State and are not required to submit an online University Scholarship Application.
Athletics
Chico State is a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), NCAA Division II Athletic conference, and offers athletic grants-in-aid to selected athletic recruits. The grants-in-aid are subject to the financial limitations and rules imposed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the CCAA. Financial aid, scholarships, specific outside resources and employment are considered in determining compliance with these limitations. For more information, contact Intercollegiate Athletics(opens in new window) at 530-898-6470.
Choose Chico Scholarship: Fall 2025 Application NOW CLOSED
These scholarships are available to first generation first year who graduated from a high school within the Chico State Service Region: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, and Yuba counties or transfer from Butte Community College, College of the Siskiyous, Lassen Community College, Shasta College and Yuba College.
Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Fall 25 application opens Jan 2, 2025 and closes March 9, 2025.
Application: Closed
MESA Engineering Program (MEP) Scholarship Application: Fall 2025 Application-CLOSED
MESA Engineering Program (MEP) Scholarship Application is open to continuing students and incoming freshman or transfer students. Several scholarships will be awarded each year by the MEP/CSC² program to qualified and deserving students for all majors within the College of Engineering (see eligibility on application). The amounts will be in the range of $500–$2,500 per year, depending on funding.
Scholarships are awarded in June and are to be used for the following academic year. Four years is the maximum number of years a MEP/CSC² Engineering student can receive this scholarship.
2025 DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Applications will be due Friday, April 25th, 2025.
Please see application for qualification details and application requirements.
Apply here: CLOSED
Online Business Administration Scholarship (OBSBA): Fall 2025 Application-CLOSED
Scholarship application is open to continuing and transfer students who are in the Online BS Business Administration (OBSBA). Must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 and have financial need (2025-26 FAFSA/CADAA must be submitted and processed by April 2, 2025).
20 scholarships of $1,575 will be awarded for Fall 2025.
To maintain eligibility student must have applied/be enrolled for Fall 2025. Student graduating prior to Fall 2025 are not eligible.
Fall 2025 Application opens Jan 2, 2025 and closes April 1, 2025.
Application: CLOSED
Lt. Robert Merton Rawlins Merit Award 2025-26: CLOSED
Mrs. Fern Rawlins established the Lieutenant Robert Merton Rawlins Merit Award Scholarship endowment in 1981 in memory of her son Robert. Mrs. Rawlins had three sons, all of whom served in World War II. Two of her sons returned home. Tragically, her son Robert, an army pilot, was lost over Tokyo Bay while flying a B-29. He was awarded the Silver Star for his action, and he is recognized, along with other Chico State Alumni who lost their lives defending our country during WWII, on the bronze plaque near the flag pole on Kendall Hall Lawn.
Mrs. Rawlins had a keen interest in education and believed in rewarding merit and achievement. It was her wish to remember her son and his contributions by rewarding excellent students.
Chico State Faculty are invited to nominate students based on the following criteria:
- Seriousness of intent to obtain an education and to increase personal knowledge
- Ability to pursue a successful life in any chosen capacity
- Evidence of scholarship, extracurricular activities, and outstanding professionally-related and academic accomplishments
Letter of recommendation is required by the nominating faculty and shall provide evidence of all criteria mentioned above.
Student Eligibility Requirements (undergraduate and graduate students):
- Must have successfully completed a minimum of twelve units at Chico State through fall 2024.
- Spring 2025 - currently enrolled full-time (12 units undergraduate or credential, 8 units graduate).
- Must enroll full-time for both the fall and spring semesters of the 2025-26 award year
- Students completing a bachelor's degree in spring 2025 are eligible if returning as a credential or graduate.
- Must be nominated by a Chico State Faculty within their department.
- Faculty must provide one recommendation letter. Optional: second letter may be from any staff or faculty.
- Former recipients of the award are not eligible; view the Lt. Robert Rawlins recipient list (PDF)
Nomination Process for faculty:
- Invitation link for nominations and instructions will be sent to all college deans and administrators by March 13th, 2025.
- Faculty will send the invitation link to your eligible student to complete nomination form in our scholarship system.
- Student completing the form will enter nominating faculty name and their Chico State email in the system to request a letter of recommendation.
- Faculty will follow instructions to upload their letter by application deadline.
For detailed instructions to nominate your student(s), you may also contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, 530-898-6444 or email us at scholarships@csuchico.edu.
Nomination Materials:
| Due April 11th |
Lt. Rawlins final selection and notification | By July |
*Nominees who are not selected may not necessarily be notified by this time.
CSU Systemwide Scholarships 2025-26: CLOSED
The CSU Systemize Scholarship Program offers financial assistance to help students across the CSU reach their goals. The scholarships offered include the CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, which recognizes students with financial needs who epitomize superior academic performance, exemplary community service, and have achieved significant personal accomplishments. Through various endowed gifts and ongoing generous contributions from alumni and friends of the University, we are able to offer many other scholarships across the CSU system.
A summary of the systemwide scholarships and eligibility requirements is provided on the CSU Foundation(opens in new window) website.
CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement: (Must be nominated)
- CSU Trustee’s Award for Outstanding Achievement - Up to $18,000:
- Eligibility Requirements:
- Demonstrate superior academic performance with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and be in good academic standing.
- Demonstrate financial need as determined by the campus financial aid office.
- Be currently enrolled as a full-time equivalent undergraduate or graduate student in any major field at a CSU campus and remain a CSU full-time equivalent student during the academic year.
- MUST be nominated by a faculty in your college at Chico State. One final nominee will be submitted to the CSU Foundation. Supplemental materials will be requested from the selected nominees.
- Eligibility Requirements:
- Invitation link for nominations and instructions will be sent to all college deans and administrators when it's available. For detailed instructions to nominate your student(s), you may also contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office at 530-898-6444 or email us at scholarships@csuchico.edu.
- Students who are interested and meet the criteria should contact a faculty member.
- The finalist applicant will be required to submit supplemental materials to submit to the CSU Foundation. Please read requirements to be prepared. Applicants will be contacted by the Scholarship Coordinator.
- Invitation link for nominations and instructions will be sent to all college deans and administrators when it's available. For detailed instructions to nominate your student(s), you may also contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office at 530-898-6444 or email us at scholarships@csuchico.edu.
CSU Systemwide Scholarships:
- Fly Fishers Club of Orange County Marine Studies Scholarship Fund(opens in new window) - Marine studies (Marine Science Dept).
- Richard Leffingwell Scholarship(opens in new window)-Business and economics and veterans.
- Real Estate Scholarship and Internship Program - Interest in career in Real Estate
- Robert D. & Dorothy W. Talty Endowment(opens in new window)- Majors: engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, and computer sciences.
- Robert M. Odell Endowed Scholarship in Public Administration(opens in new window) - Public administration majors.
- Stephen Y. Ho Memorial Scholarship - Participating in a CSU International Programs in China or Taiwan
- Wilson C. Riles Education Scholarship(opens in new window) - students currently enrolled in a teacher credential program.
To apply for any of the opportunities listed above:
Application: CLOSED
Deadline: May 2, 2025 by midnight
Additional CSU Systemwide Scholarships with additional material required:
- Jim Sanders Media and Leadership Scholarship(opens in new window) - Journalism, media, and communication majors
- To Apply: CLOSED
- Howard C. Christiansen Endowed Scholarship(opens in new window) - undergraduate or graduate students in any engineering major field.
- To Apply: CLOSED
- William & Janet Lahey Art Education and Visual Arts Scholarship Endowment(opens in new window) -Education/high school single subject teaching credential.
- To Apply: CLOSED
- Dale M. Schoettler Scholarship for Visual Impaired Students -
- Application Opens April 1, 2025: CLOSED
All CSU Systemwide Scholarship Applications must be submitted to the corresponding link by May 2, 2025 unless a different date is specified in the application.
Read all required supplemental material required for any scholarship you applied for. Be sure to check your email for when the Scholarship Coordinator reaches out to you during the month of May and June for any additional materials required as a finalist.
For questions, contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office at 530-898-6451 or email scholarships@csuchico.edu.
Student Life and Leadership University Awards
Faculty and staff are encouraged to nominate student or student groups for awards and recognition. Awards may vary from $500 to $4300.