Steve Perez President | California State University Chico
Steve Perez President | California State University Chico
Of the three institutions in the county, California State University-Chico was the only one that provided detailed enrollment data at the time.
At least 21,417 people applied to Butte County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 23,574 students enrolled in the universities, including 22,372 in undergraduate and 1,202 in graduate programs. In total 8.7% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (45.6%) and Hispanic (36.3%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, California State University-Chico stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 14,183 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Chico | 21,417 | 20,346 | 14,183 |
| Butte County Regional Occupational Program | -- | -- | 29 |
| Butte College | -- | -- | 9,362 |
Alerts Sign-up