Financial Aid & Scholarship Office

Wildcat Scholarships

2025-26 Wildcat Scholarship Application Now Open!

Application Dates and Deadlines
  • 2025-26 Wildcat Scholarship Application: Jan. 2, 2025 to Feb. 15, 2025
    • Letters of Recommendations deadline: Feb. 20, 2025
  • Extended Deadline
    • RN-BSN majors application due: March 31
    • Letters of Recommendations deadline: April 7

Wildcat Scholarship Workshop 2025-26

Did you miss our virtual Wildcat Scholarship workshop? Don't worry! Enjoy our online workshop recording designed to help you navigate the Financial & Scholarship Office website with a focus on the Wildcat Scholarship Application. We'll walk you through the Wildcat Scholarship, explaining what it is and how to apply. Get insights into awards, external scholarships, and writing tips for those statement questions. Plus, learn all about reference letters. Get ahead and gear up for success in the coming scholarship cycle!


Student Highlights

This could be you. Here are two examples of students who have received scholarships.

recipient portrait

Charlie Giannini received the Alumni Association Scholarship, one of four $1,000 scholarships based on recipient being a dependent of a Chico State alum and hold a minimum 2.0 GPA

recipient portrait

Megan Donaldson is one of the recipients of Chico State’s 2022 President’s Scholarship—one of the University’s most prestigious and one awarded to highly qualified and deserving high school seniors.

Written Statements

As you're completing the application, you'll be asked to answer three questions, each in 350 words or less.

Tips

  • write your answers in a Word document program
  • proofread and edit
  • copy and paste them into the application

You'll Answer These 3 Essay Questions

  • What are your educational and career goals? 
  • What campus or school-sponsored activities (i.e., Clubs, support programs, class events), community organizations, or volunteer initiatives have you participated in during the past three years? Please include any specific projects or events you were involved in, along with your role and level of leadership or responsibility.
  • Describe how receiving a scholarship will support your educational journey. In your response, share how you’ve overcome challenges or obstacles in pursuing your college degree, focusing on the strengths, skills, and determination you’ve developed. Additionally, explain how a scholarship will help you achieve your academic and career goals.

These questions were updated for the 2025-26 Wildcat Scholarship application. 

Student writing


Letter of Recommendation

Read Online Letter of Recommendation Guidelines for instructions and exceptions. Your application will be considered incomplete without a letter of recommendation.

Special Department Requirements
DepartmentRequirement
Music and TheatreRequires an audition or interview and should contact the Music and Theatre Department office.
Art and Art History

Requests a portfolio. Contact the department office.

Learn more about the Art and Art History Scholarship.

Floyd L. English Natural SciencesRequires two letters of recommendation.

Additional Conditional Application Required

After applying for the Wildcat Scholarship application, you will be prompted to also submit a Conditional Application for listed majors below. This Conditional Application will be on your dashboard when you log into the scholarship platform.

  • Agriculture majors
  • Construction Management major
  • Music majors

Selection Criteria

  • Full-time enrollment and 2.0 GPA
  • Educational and career objectives
  • Scholastic achievements
  • Financial need
  • Involvement in school or community service
  • Active Affiliation with clubs and organizations
  • Special qualifications (talent, obstacles overcome, relationships)

fall colors


Wildcat Scholarship Process

Application Process

  • Open the Wildcat Scholarships application
  • Sign in with Chico State Portal Credentials
  • Enter all of the information as requested on online application
  • Submit application by the deadline
  • Complete any additional supplemental questionnaires
  • Confirm submission of recommendation letter by the deadline

Selection

  • Scholarship review committees will review eligible scholarship applicants
  • Late July: Scholarships will be offered in student's financial aid package assuming all final recipients are confirmed by committees by this time
  • Your financial aid award will be adjusted to include scholarship awards
  • Mid-August: Regret notifications sent out

Disbursement

  • Disbursement of scholarships will occur weekly, but not earlier than one week prior to the start of each semester
  • Must meet full-time enrollment, GPA  and major eligibility according to the scholarship guideline to receive the funds
  • Monitor your Student Service Center regularly for any Holds, Messages and To-Do list items

student writing


Frequently Asked Questions

General

Who is eligible for Wildcat Scholarships?

  • Incoming high school students, transfer students and graduate students
  • Current continuing Undergraduate, Graduate, and Credential Students
  • International Students
  • Full time enrollment for the awarding year is required to receive any scholarships (12+ units for Undergraduates or Credential students, 8 units for Graduate Students)

I have applied to Chico State but have yet to be accepted, can I still apply?

Yes. If you have applied to Chico State but have yet to be admitted you are eligible to apply. Once you have completed your application to Chico State you will receive your Wildcat Credentials which you will utilize to log into the application.

Do I need to complete the FAFSA or Dream Act Application to be eligible for Wildcat Scholarships?

We highly recommend completing the FAFSA or Dream Act Application prior to the Wildcat Scholarships Application Deadline. We have over 240 scholarships that are need based. Your FAFSA information is required for to determine your eligibility for need based scholarships.

I have yet to declare my major. Am I still eligible for Wildcat Scholarships?

Yes, you are still eligible for Wildcat Scholarships that are not major based. However, you will not be eligible for any major based scholarships which will limit the number of potential scholarships you may be eligible for. We highly recommend if you know what major you would like to declare to do so before February.

When will I know if I received a Wildcat Scholarship?                                              

Wildcat Scholarship recipients will receive a notification to their student center by mid-July alerting them they received a Wildcat Scholarship. 


Making Changes

I have submitted my Wildcat Scholarships Application but I want to make changes to the information I submitted, how do I do this?
You are able to log back into your Wildcat Scholarships application and make changes until the deadline.


Letter of Recommendation

Who should I ask to write a Letter of Recommendation for me?
Ask someone who knows you well and can write about your academic potential, your career goals, your volunteer and organizational commitments, etc. A recommender could be a faculty member or teacher, a counselor, an advisor, an employer, or an organizational leader.

They should have direct contact with you, but should not be an immediate relative. We recommend at least one Recommendation Provider be a faculty member or teacher from your major.

Why do you recommend having two (2) Letters of Recommendation when they are not required for all majors?
We recommend having two Letters of Recommendation for the following reasons:

  • Gives the Scholarship Committee a greater opportunity to learn more details about you that may aid you in receiving a scholarship. Just as your faculty provider may focus on your academic potential, your advisor may write about some of your obstacles/challenges.
  • Having two Recommendation Providers helps you plan ahead for any issues that may prevent one of your Recommendation Providers from submitting their Letter of Recommendation.
  • Majority of our scholarships requires only one letter, we do have a few that requires two. If you provided two, this would give you more scholarship opportunities.

Remember you will need to enter in the correct Name and Email of the Recommendation Providers as you submit your application. They will not receive the link to submit their letter until you submit your application.

The Recommendation Provider writing my Letter of Recommendation hasn't received the instruction (notification) yet. What should I do?

  • Ask your Recommendation Provider to check their spam or clutter folder. The email will be sent from the Wildcat Scholarships system and may go to these folders.
  • Log back into your Wildcat Scholarships Application and confirm you have entered in their email correctly. Chico State staff and faculty you must use the email @csuchico.edu.
  • If you need to correct their email add the individual again as a New Reference.

I have submitted my Wildcat Scholarships Application but need to change the Recommendation Provider or correct the email. What should I do?
You are able to log back into your Wildcat Scholarships application and make changes until the deadline.

How do I check if a Letter of Recommendation was submitted?
Log into your Wildcat Scholarship Application. On the Reference tab, click on "Active". Under the Status Column you will see if your letter has been "Submitted" or still in "Not Started" status. You may decide to send another request by clicking on the "Resend Request" button. If necessary, you may need to follow-up directly with your Recommender.


Losing Scholarships

Can you lose a Wildcat Scholarship due to unmet GPA requirement?
Yes. If you are awarded a scholarship with a GPA requirement you will need to maintain the minimum GPA requirement to keep the scholarship. If you fall below your required GPA requirement please email the Scholarship Office at scholarships@csuchico.edu to discuss the specific details of your situation.

Can you lose a Wildcat Scholarship if you are no longer a full-time student (Full-time: 12+ units for Undergraduates or Credential students, 8+ units for Graduate Students)?
Yes. The majority of scholarships require full time enrollment. If you drop below full-time enrollment you may lose your scholarship. If this happens please email the Scholarship Office at scholarships@csuchico.edu to discuss the specific details of your situation.

What happens if I receive a Wildcat Scholarship from my major but change my major midyear? Can I still keep my scholarship?
It depends on the scholarship guidelines and what you changed your major to. Please email the Scholarship Office at scholarships@csuchico.edu to discuss the specific details of your case.