California State University-Chico
Chico, California · Public · 92.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 82/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
CSU Chico scores 82 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale. The key driver is low cost: in-state tuition of $8,472, net price of $14,480, and median debt of $16,552 produce a 6.8-year payback period against $42,900 in average 6-year earnings. A 50.4% earnings premium over non-degree holders is strong. The completion rate of 62.8% is the main drag on the score; well over a third of entering students do not graduate. Registered Nursing is the standout program: 113 graduates, $113,181 year-one, $117,543 at year four, A-grade ROI. Construction Engineering Technology (116 graduates) and Computer Science (66 graduates) are the other top performers, both earning A grades. The breadth of programs is one of Chico's strengths - from agriculture and engineering to social sciences and humanities - though lower-earning fields like Kinesiology (D grade) and Fine Arts (C grade) bring the aggregate down. For in-state students, Chico's low net price makes the outcomes financially defensible. Out-of-state tuition of $21,072 changes the calculation significantly.
California State University-Chico scores in the top 11% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
California State University-Chico
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,472/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,072/yr |
| Average net price | $14,480/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $57,920 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $64,172 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $16,552 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $175 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 62.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 13,631 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $8,472/year ($21,072/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $14,480/year, or roughly $57,920 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $9,902/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,566/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $16,552, which works out to about $175 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,900) and comes to 0.39, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,902 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,099 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,961 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,506 |
| $110,001+ | $23,566 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families in the $0-$30,000 bracket pay $9,902 per year at Chico, against an in-state tuition of $8,472 plus fees. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $10,099. At these net prices, even completion rates of 62.8% produce a financially defensible outcome for students who graduate into mid-range or technical programs. For nursing or engineering students, this is an exceptional value.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $12,961 per year. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $16,506. These figures reflect modest to no institutional grant aid above lower income bands. For middle-income families, the California tuition fee structure means they are largely paying cost-of-attendance.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $23,566 per year at Chico - reflecting full cost of attendance including room and board rather than just tuition. Out-of-state families pay $21,072 in tuition plus fees, making Chico less attractive as an out-of-state option.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California State University-Chico with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $72,651 | B |
| Psychology | $52,621 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $55,008 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $52,978 | D |
| Sociology | $52,323 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,464 | C+ |
| Public Health | $45,339 | C+ |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $88,648 | A |
| Registered Nursing | $117,543 | A |
| Animal Sciences | $48,474 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Chico's highest-earnings program by a wide margin: 113 graduates, $113,181 year-one, $117,543 at year four, A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.178) with median debt of $20,125. Against in-state tuition of $8,472, the financial efficiency of this program is exceptional. The year-four figure of $117k reflects California nursing salaries rather than dramatic career acceleration.
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
Construction Engineering Technology posts $88,648 year-one, A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.238) with 116 graduates and median debt of $21,104. Four-year earnings data is not reported. This is a high-employment path in California's active construction market, and Chico's program is well-regarded regionally. The debt-to-earnings figure is strong relative to the starting salary. This program is one of Chico's best-value technical offerings.
Computer Science
Computer Science earns 66 graduates, $81,021 year-one, $127,498 at year four, A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.247) with median debt of $20,000. The four-year trajectory to $127k is notably strong for a regional state university and reflects the premium California tech labor market absorbs Chico CS graduates into. In-state students pursuing CS here are capturing a significant portion of the Silicon Valley premium.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Chico's largest program at 503 graduates: $46,145 year-one, $72,651 at year four, B-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.390). These are solid outcomes. Against in-state tuition of $8,472, the financial case is workable. Graduates enter regional Northern California business markets. The year-four figure of $72k reflects a diverse career trajectory across industries.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California State University-Chico’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 92.7% |
| Enrollment | 13,631 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 42.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,664 |
The Scorecard does not report test score ranges. Admission to specific high-demand programs like nursing may carry higher standards than the general university admission. Students should verify program-specific requirements separately from the university's overall admission process.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Chico (this school) | 82 | $14,480 | $64,172 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 80 | $15,543 | $62,203 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| Western Washington University | 72 | $21,193 | $62,569 |
| Portland State University | 69 | $9,552 | $57,906 |
Who Thrives Here
CSU Chico admits 92.7% of applicants - broadly accessible with essentially open enrollment. The Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT score ranges. The 13,631-student campus is a full-service state university with a strong campus culture and a broad range of programs. Pell rate of 42.5% means a substantial share of students receive federal aid. Engineering, nursing, and construction students see the strongest returns.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, California State University-Chico pays off. You'd pay about $14,480 a year after aid ($57,920 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $64,172 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.8 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $16,552 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
California State University-Chico: Common Questions
Is California State University-Chico worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students California State University-Chico pays off. It scores 82/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $14,480 a year after aid ($57,920 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $64,172 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.8 years to earn back.
How much does California State University-Chico cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $14,480 a year, or roughly $57,920 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do California State University-Chico graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $64,172 ten years after enrolling, roughly $22,372 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off California State University-Chico?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.8 years for California State University-Chico. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do California State University-Chico graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $16,552, against average earnings of $42,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Chico?
The six-year graduation rate is 62.8%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.