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
- 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
- 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 OPEN!
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.
Qualified Applicants apply here: https://csuchico.academicworks.com/opportunities/21704
Online Business Administration Scholarship (OBSBA)-Fall 2025 Application NOW OPEN!!
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 (25-26 FAFSA/CADAA must be submitted and processed by March 3, 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!
Qualified applicant apply here: https://csuchico.academicworks.com/opportunities/21706
Lt. Robert Merton Rawlins Merit Award 2024-25 -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 2023.
- Spring 2024 - 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 2024-25 award year
- Students completing a bachelor's degree in spring 2024 are eligible if returning as a credential or graduate.
- Must be nominated by a Chico State Faculty within their department and provide at least 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:
Nominations are now completed online using our scholarship system. Invitation link for nominations and instructions will be sent to all college deans and administrators by March 13th, 2024. 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 12th |
Recommendations from Deans and Administrators | Due April 26th |
University Scholarship Committee Reviews | By May 10th |
Lt. Rawlins final selection and notification sent | *TBA |
*Nominees who are not selected may not necessarily be notified by this time.
CSU Systemwide Scholarships- 25-26 academic year applications will open soon!
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:
- CSU Trustee’s Award for Outstanding Achievement - Up to $18,000: MUST be nominated by a faculty in your college. 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.
CSU Systemwide Scholarships:--ALL APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED. 25-26 academic year applications will open soon!
- Fly Fishers Club of Orange County Marine Studies Scholarship Fund(opens in new window)- One $3,000 scholarship: Marine studies (Marine Science Dept.).
- Hampton Scholars Scholarship(opens in new window)- Four $5,000 scholarships: graduates from the California Academy of Math and Science High School who are studying at any CSU campus.
- Richard Leffingwell Scholarship(opens in new window)- Two $3,500 scholarships: Business and economics and veterans.
- Robert D. & Dorothy W. Talty Endowment(opens in new window)- One $7,000 scholarship: Majors: engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, and computer sciences.
- Robert M. Odell Endowed Scholarship in Public Administration(opens in new window)- Four $2,500 scholarships: Public administration majors.
- William & Janet Lahey Art Education and Visual Arts Scholarship Endowment(opens in new window) - Two $10,000 Scholarships: Education/high school single subject teaching credential.
- Wilson C. Riles Education Scholarship- (opens in new window)Three $2,500 Scholarships; students currently enrolled in a teacher credential program.
- CSU Systemwide Scholarship Application Link: https://csuchico.academicworks.com/opportunities/20162
Additional CSU Systemwide Scholarships with additional material required:
- Jim Sanders Media and Leadership Scholarship-(opens in new window) One $2,500 scholarship: Journalism, media, and communication majors
- Jim Sanders Media and Leadership Scholarship Application link: https://csuchico.academicworks.com/opportunities/20188
- Glenn and Dorothy Dumke Fellowship- (opens in new window)One $1,600 scholarship: History, economics, public administration, public policy, political science, and library science.
- Glenn and Dorothy Dumke Fellowship Application link: https://csuchico.academicworks.com/opportunities/20186
- Howard C. Christiansen Endowed Scholarship(opens in new window)—Six $5,000 scholarships for undergraduate or graduate students in any engineering major field.
- Howard C. Christiansen Endowed Scholarship Application Link: https://csuchico.academicworks.com/opportunities/20192
How to Apply:
- A link to our online system for students to complete all required materials electronically. Based on scholarship criteria, some scholarships have individual links.
Application Process for all CSU Systemwide Scholarships: All required applications must be submitted to the corresponding link by the end of the day on May 6th, 2024.
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.