Financial Aid & Scholarship Office
Our Office

Financial Aid & Scholarship Office
Student Services Center, Room 250
530-898-6451
Fax: 530-898–6883
Financial Aid Email
finaid@csuchico.edu
Scholarships Email
scholarships@csuchico.edu

Open M, W, Th, F - closed Tues for processing
Phone 10 AM - 4 PM
Lobby open 8 AM - 5 PM

Mailing Address
Financial Aid & Scholarship Office
400 W. First St.
Chico, CA 95929–0705

More Contact Information

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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.

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:

  1. Seriousness of intent to obtain an education and to increase personal knowledge
  2. Ability to pursue a successful life in any chosen capacity
  3. 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: 

  1. Invitation link for nominations and instructions will be sent to all college deans and administrators by March 13th, 2025.
  2. Faculty will send the invitation link to your eligible student to complete nomination form in our scholarship system. 
  3. Student completing the form will enter nominating faculty name and their Chico State email in the system to request a letter of recommendation. 
  4. 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.

Timelines for 2025-26 Nominations

Nomination Materials:

  • Student Nomination Form completed online
  • One Letter of recommendation by nominating Chico State faculty uploaded.

 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. 
    • 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. 

CSU Systemwide Scholarships: 

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:


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.

Scholarship Pages

Scholarship Home

Wildcat Scholarships

 Departments

External Scholarships

Information for Recipients

Letter of Rec. Guidelines