California State University, Chico (Chico State) is a public university in Chico, California, United States. It was founded in 1887 as one of about 180 "normal schools" founded by state governments in the 19th century to train teachers for the rapidly growing public common schools. Some closed but most steadily expanded their role and became state colleges in the early 20th century and state universities in the late 20th century. It is the second oldest campus in the California State University system. As of the fall 2020 semester, the university had a total enrollment of 16,630 students. The university offers 126 bachelor's degree programs, 35 master's degree programs, and four types of teaching credentials. Chico is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
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History
On March 12, 1887, a legislative act was enacted to create the Northern Branch of the California State Normal School. Less than a month later, Chico was chosen as the location. In 1887, General John Bidwell donated 8 acres (3.2 ha) of land from his cherry orchard. On July 4, 1888, the first cornerstone was laid. On September 3, 1889, doors opened for the 90 enrolled students. The library opened on January 11, 1890, with 350 books. On June 20, 1891, the first graduation took place, a class of 15.
In 1910, Annie Kennedy Bidwell donated an additional 2 acres (0.81 ha) of land to be used for work with elementary agriculture. The next year Mrs. Bidwell donated an orange orchard lot 55 × 440 feet (130 m) as the children's playground, which is connected to the Training School. In 1921, legislation was enacted to change the school's name to Chico State Teacher's College. In 1922, Chico State Teacher's College added a junior college curriculum and awarded a certificate after two years. Also in 1922, Bidwell Mansion was turned into a women's dormitory. In 1923 the first college paper, The Collegian, was published. In 1924, the state Board of Education allowed the school to grant baccalaureate degrees. Also in 1924, the wildcat was chosen as the mascot. In 1927 a gym was built on the grounds of Bidwell Mansion. In 1929, the cornerstone for the new administration building was laid on top of Normal Building's original cornerstone.
In 1935, Bidwell Hall was turned into a recreation and student center—the first student union. Also in 1935 a legislative act changed the college name from Chico State Teachers College to Chico State College. In 1937 evening classes started on campus and athletic fields were purchased from the Chico Board of Education.
In 1948, dorms for 500 male students were set up on west side of Warner Street. The buildings were built during World War II and were used as bachelor quarters for a Marine Hospital in Klamath Falls, Oregon.
In 1950, California's governor allowed state colleges to grant Master of Arts degrees. In 1951 the college reorganized from 18 departments into seven divisions with chairmen. Then in 1956 a new flagpost and sign in front of Kendall Hall was donated by the class of 1956. In the following year, 1957, a new cafeteria was built and the rose gardens were planted. In 1958 the first "telecourse" was taught, Psychology 51.
Academics
The university has more than 75 departments and offers more than 150 undergraduate degrees. It is organized into seven colleges and four schools:
College of Agriculture
College of Behavioral & Social Sciences
School of Social Work
College of Business
College of Communication & Education
School of Education
College of Engineering, Computer Science, & Construction Management
College of Humanities & Fine Arts
School of the Arts
College of Natural Sciences
School of Nursing
The university's library, the Meriam Library, has several special collections of Native American and Californian history.
Rankings
According to the U.S. News & World Report 2025 college rankings, Chico State was ranked at 14th for "Best Colleges for Veterans", 11th in Top Public Schools, 23rd in Top Performers on Social Mobility, 62nd in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs, and 218th in Nursing.
Campus
The California State University, Chico campus consists of a 119-acre main campus, the 800-acre Paul L. Byrne Memorial University Farm, and 2,330-acres of ecological reserves. These reserves include the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER) and the Butte Creek Ecological Preserve (BCEP).
Early construction
The construction of the normal school building was begun in September 1887. It was a large brick building, consisting of three stories and full basement. It was of Romanesque design with Elizabethan gables and artificial stone trimmings. The building was destroyed by a fire in 1927. The current administration building Kendall Hall was built on the site of the normal school in 1929.
Colusa Hall, completed in 1921 is the oldest building on campus. Today it is used as a conference and public events facility.
Alfred E. Warren House, built by noted Californian architect Julia Morgan in 1922–23, serves as the university president's residence.
Arboretum
The Campus Arboretum is located along Big Chico Creek.
Nearby Bidwell Park includes 29 acres (12 ha) of a former arboretum, now run somewhat wild, which contains trees such as English oaks, hawthorn, cherry plum, bay laurel, cork oak, ponderosa, aleppo, and Monterey pines, willow, mulberry, linden, maple, catalpa, pine, and eucalyptus, collected from around the world.
Residence halls
Currently, the university can accommodate 2,150 or approximately 13% of the student body in seven on-campus residential halls. Most buildings on campus are named after California counties.
Meriam library
In 1959, Chico State College Library was built. The library was expanded and renamed to the "Learning Activities Resource Center" (LARC) in 1975. It was in 1985 when the library gained another expansion and its current name, Meriam Library. A fourth floor of the library was constructed in 1985.
Student life
Associated Students, Chico
Associated Students, Chico is the student government at California State University, Chico.
Office of Student Life and Leadership
Student Life and Leadership, formally the Student Activities Office, incorporates three programs: Student Organizations and Leadership Education (SOLE), Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (FSA), and Recreational Sports.
Town Hall Meeting
Chico State has an annual event where Chico State students gather in a public area and discuss most current policy issues with their peers. Faculty members are also involved.
The Great Debate
The Great Debate was created to drive members of both the campus and the community to take part in a conversation about important issues. A different topic is chosen every semester.
Greek life
As of May 2017 Chico State has 30 fraternities and sororities, making up approximately 12 percent of the student population.
Demographics
Male to Female Percentage: 43:57%
CSU Chico along with CSU Bakersfield has the second largest enrollment percentage of Native Americans in the Cal State system.
Student media
KCSC Radio was founded in 1951. The university's student-run weekly newspaper, The Orion first began publishing in 1975. In 1989, The Orion won the National Pacemaker Award, the first of nine times the paper has won the top prize in college journalism. In 2009, The Orion won a National Pacemaker Award in the four-year non-daily newspaper category at the College Media Convention.
In 1997 Wild Oak Music Group, an independent record company, was founded and is run by the Music Industry students within the College of Humanities and Fine Arts.
Athletics
The university's athletic teams are known as the Chico State Wildcats. The school sponsors soccer, basketball, golf, cross country, and track and field for both men and women. The school sponsors softball and volleyball for women, and baseball for men. The school's athletic director was Anita Barker. The school competes in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Since 1998, Chico State's athletic teams have won 99 NCAA Championship berths, 40 CCAA titles, 24 West Region titles, and 15 NCAA national titles. The Wildcats softball team won the first AIAW Division III national championship in 1980, led by pitcher Kathy Arendsen. Chico excels in cross country and track and field in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
The Wildcats of Chico State earned six team NCAA championships at the Division II level. NCAA Division II individual championships by Scott Bauhs (2008) Men's cross country and J. J. Jakovac (2002, 2004) and Kyle Souza (2011) Men's Golf Championships.
Men's Team (6)
Baseball (2): 1997, 1999
Golf (1): 1966
Swimming and diving (3): 1973, 1974, 1976
Sustainability
Chico State made The Princeton Review's 2011 "Guide to Green Colleges", honoring campuses that "demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation."
Noted people
University presidents
The following persons led California State University, Chico:
Table notes: