Chico State acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
California State University-Chico · Public · Chico, CA · 13,160 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
Chico State admitted 93.7% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 71.6% in 2013. California residents pay $8,896 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $22,216.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 71.6% | 17,215 | 12,327 |
| 2014 | 71.0% | 21,495 | 15,252 |
| 2015 | 63.4% | 22,760 | 14,441 |
| 2016 | 65.2% | 23,591 | 15,393 |
| 2017 | 67.8% | 23,305 | 15,796 |
| 2018 | 65.3% | 23,964 | 15,639 |
| 2019 | 72.3% | 25,908 | 18,740 |
| 2020 | 90.2% | 19,999 | 18,034 |
| 2021 | 85.5% | 19,990 | 17,086 |
| 2022 | 95.0% | 21,417 | 20,347 |
| 2023 | 93.7% | 22,263 | 20,864 |
Applications went from 17,215 in fall 2013 to 22,263 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $9,227 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $9,652 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $11,665 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $16,700 |
| Over $110,000 | $23,898 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $8,896 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $22,216 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $26,798 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $14,157 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento State CA | 93.6% | $9,014 in-state |
| CSUN CA | 93.1% | $7,850 in-state |
| Cal State LA CA | 91.9% | $7,530 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Chico State admitted 20,864 of the 22,263 students who applied for fall 2023, an admit rate of 93.7%.1 In fall 2013 the rate was 71.6%, so it is up 22.1 percentage points, with declines in 5 of the 10 yearly changes.1 Much of the change came at once, as the rate went from 72.3% in 2019 to 90.2% in 2020, and the figure for 2022 was 95.0%.1 Applications grew 29% from 2013 to 2023 and admitted students grew 69%.1
The university is test-blind, so SAT and ACT scores are not used.1
Tuition and fees at Chico for 2025-26 come to $8,896 for California residents and $22,216 for students from other states.2 The resident price is slightly above the $8,846 median of the 33 public bachelor's colleges in California.2 The 2024-25 net price after grants averaged $9,227 for the $0 to $30,000 band, rising to $11,665 for $48,001 to $75,000 and $23,898 for families over $110,000.2
Among 2019 entrants, 60% graduated within 6 years, level with the California median of 60%.2 Chico retained 82% of its fall 2023 entrants, and 46% of undergraduates received Pell grants.2 Median earnings of $70,012 10 years after entry match the $70,012 state median, and borrowers owed a median of $14,259.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 22,263 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 20,864 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 2,171 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 13,160 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-blind | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | Not reported | Not reported |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | Not reported | Not reported |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | Not reported | Not reported |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | Not reported | Not reported |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | Not reported | Not reported |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | Not reported | Not reported |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | Not reported | Not reported |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | Not reported | Not reported |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $8,896 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $22,216 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $26,798 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $14,157 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $9,227 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $9,652 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $11,665 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $16,700 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $23,898 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 60% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 82% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 46% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $70,012 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $14,259 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, California (N = 33) | $8,846 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, California (N = 123) | 60% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry, California (N = 129) | $70,012 | College Scorecard, median MD_EARN_WNE_P10, bachelor's institutions, 2022-232 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with Chico State, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page