Wildcat Scholarships

2023-24  Wildcat Scholarship Application is open Jan 2-Feb 15, 2023

By submitting the Wildcat Scholarship Application(opens in new window), you are applying for all major based, re-entry and university-wide scholarships. Be sure to apply(opens in new window) by February 15, 2023. 

California State University, Chico provides opportunities for scholarship awards to eligible admitted Chico State students. New and continuing Chico State students are encouraged to apply by submitting the online Wildcat Scholarship Application using the Blackbaud AwardManagement online program. New students do not need to be admitted to apply. Requires a Cal State Application to Chico State and a student ID. Full-time enrollment will be verified upon scholarship disbursement. Scholarships are based on any or all of the following criteria:

• 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)

EXTENDED DEADLINES FOR THE FOLLOWING ONLY: March 30th

• Students accepted for the RN/BSN for summer 2023
• For the Watling Family Nursing Scholarship ONLY
• Letters of recommendations deadline April 10

Wildcat Scholarships: How to apply

Chico State President's Scholars Program

The President's Scholars Program is an important part of Chico State's commitment to the recruitment of highly qualified high school seniors, particularly from the North State. Since 1995, the university has offered selective scholarships to Chico State students who will enroll as first-time freshmen. For the upcoming academic year, President's scholarships $30,000 ($7,500 per year for four years) will be offered to qualified students. Up to seven President's scholarships will be offered to students in any major, including undeclared. Up to four scholarships will be offered to students in a major in the College of Agriculture.

Minimum Criteria:

1. First Time Freshman
2. Fall 2023 admissions application submitted
3. High school GPA of 3.5, and
4. Full-time enrollment during awarding year

Candidates must submit the online Wildcat Scholarship Application, and have at least one on-line letter of recommendation submitted on their behalf.

Selection of the President's scholars will be made by the University Scholarship Committee and the dean of the College of Agriculture for the additional scholarships. If you have additional questions, please contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office at 530-898-6451, or email  Scholarships@csuchico.edu

 Continuing Eligibility

• Must enroll full-time (minimum of 12 units) each semester.
• Must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3.

Wildcat Scholarship Process:

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• Application Process
  • Go to WILDCAT SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION(opens in new window)-
  • 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 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

Wildcat Scholarship Written Statements

In addition to other questions, you will be asked to complete 5 written statements to help the scholarship committees get to know you and provide information that will help us match you to specific scholarship opportunities. 

We recommend you compose your written statements in a document editing program to easily proof and edit. You can save your answers and then copy and paste in the application. Please limit each response to 300 words or less. Easy readability format is important.

You may review and complete your responses to these questions before the online application opens.

1. What are your educational and career goals?
2. What campus or school sponsored activities have you participated in during the past three years? Describe your involvement, include names, dates of memberships, the number of hours involved, and offices held.
3. What involvement have you had in community organizations or volunteer activities over the past three years? Include projects or events and your level of involvement.
4. Explain how a scholarship will help you to fund your education. Include any information regarding exceptional hardships or obstacles you may have overcome in your pursuit of a college degree.
5. Describe any special talent you may possess or your proudest accomplishment.

The  Student Writing Center (opens in new window) may be able to help with your statement responses. Currently enrolled CSU Chico students can schedule an one hour or 30 min drop-in session.

Wildcat scholarships require at least one 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:

• Music and Theatre majors require an audition or interview and should contact the Music and Theatre Department office.
• Majors in the Art and Art History department request a portfolio. Contact the department office.
• Civil Engineering majors require a supplemental application. Contact the Civil Engineering office.
• Floyd L. English Natural Sciences Scholarship requires two letters of recommendations.

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
• Business majors
• Construction Management major
• Music majors

Wildcat Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions

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• Who is eligible for Wildcat Scholarships?

  • Incoming High School or Transfer 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.

• 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 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?

  Log into your Wildcat Scholarship Application. At the bottom of your application, click on the drop down box to select or click on “Add a New Reference.”

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.