The starting point
Chico State publishes no automatic GPA/test merit grid; institutional merit runs through the competitive Wildcat Scholarship application (over $1.6M/yr to 1,000+ students, most awards in the low-thousands) plus a faculty/committee-selected Academic & Performance recruitment award and a handful of capped named/CSU-system awards.
Selection beyond grades and scores. These awards are not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read each award's selection rules, application steps and dates. Meeting a minimum is not an award offer.
Awards to discuss
First 3 of 5 recorded awards, in chapter display order. This is a selection, not a ranking. Read the full chapter for all awards. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.
Wildcat Scholarship (one application, merit + need-based pool)
Varies — over $1.6 million awarded each year to more than 1,000 students; individual amounts not published · Variable or qualified amount
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
GPA: Minimum 2.0 GPA and full-time enrollment to apply; individual scholarships may set higher GPA
Eligibility: Single online application in the Wildcat Scholarship Portal (Jan 2–Feb 15); three 300-word essays; FAFSA/CADAA by March 2 for need-based awards. Open to incoming freshmen, transfers, continuing, graduate, credential, and international students.
Renewal: Awards are made 'for the upcoming academic year'; the page lists no automatic multi-year renewal. Recipients must maintain full-time enrollment (12 units undergrad / 8 graduate) and any scholarship-specific GPA; the office may adjust the award based on unmet need.
Other terms: This is the main institutional merit vehicle, but it is a competitive pool that mixes merit and need-based awards (the page cites 'over 240 scholarships that are need based'). No fixed dollar amount or automatic stats cutoff is published. Includes the President's Scholarship (no amount published) and the Alumni Association Scholarship ($1,000).
https://www.csuchico.edu/fa/scholarships/wildcat.shtml
Academic & Performance (A&P) Recruitment Scholarship
Amount not published · Published award terms
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: First-time admit recipients are selected by the Enrollment Management Committee; no separate University Scholarship Application required.
Renewal: No renewal terms published.
Other terms: Merit/talent-based recruitment award handed to selected incoming admits by a committee — NOT automatic on a published GPA/test grid and NOT student-applied. No dollar amount, cutoff, or count is published on the official page.
https://www.csuchico.edu/fa/scholarships/departments.shtml
CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement
Up to $7,000 · Variable or qualified amount
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
GPA: Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and good academic standing
Eligibility: Must be nominated by a faculty member; CSU systemwide award. Deadline April 15, 2026 11:59pm.
Renewal: No renewal terms published; faculty re-nomination implied each cycle.
Other terms: CSU systemwide donor-funded award, faculty-nominated and competitive — not automatic. Cap of $7,000 is the published ceiling, not a guaranteed amount.
https://www.csuchico.edu/fa/scholarships/departments.shtml
