Chico State was founded in 1887 and reported 14,823 students in fall 2025, with preliminary fall 2026 figures above 15,000. Butte College, in Oroville, opened in 1967 and has centers in Chico and Orland. Together they anchor the local housing market, especially near campus and Downtown.
What is Chico State?
California State University, Chico began in 1887 as the Northern Branch of the California State Normal School and is the second-oldest campus in the CSU system. The central campus is 119 acres within 3,249 acres total, including the 800-acre Paul L. Byrne Memorial University Farm and 2,330 acres of ecological reserves. Its teams are the Wildcats, NCAA Division II. Colusa Hall, finished in 1921, is the oldest building on campus.
How many students attend?
Chico State reported 14,823 students in fall 2025, and preliminary fall 2026 counts put enrollment above 15,000, the fourth straight year of growth. Enrollment is still about 2,000 below its pre-2018 level.
What is Butte College?
Butte College was founded in 1967 as part of the Butte-Glenn Community College District. The main campus is in Oroville at Pentz and Clark Roads, chosen for its central location in Butte County, and it sits on a wildlife refuge. It began with law enforcement, fire science and vocational nursing, and today emphasizes career education and transfer pathways. It has expanded to Chico and Orland and enrolls about 12,669 students.
How do the schools affect housing?
Homes around Chico State are walkable to campus and Downtown, and buyers weigh age and condition block to block. Demand for rentals near campus follows the academic calendar, so summer turnover matters if you plan to rent a unit. See the Around Chico State neighborhood guide and the student housing guide for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Chico State founded?
1887.
How many students attend Chico State?
14,823 in fall 2025, with preliminary fall 2026 figures above 15,000.
Where is Butte College?
The main campus is in Oroville, with centers in Chico and Orland.
How big is the Chico State campus?
119 acres of central campus within 3,249 acres total.
Enrollment figures change each term. Want homes near campus? Call or text me at 707-672-6549 and I will send recent closed sales from CRMLS. Happy to help. Descriptions are general information, not a statement about who lives in an area.
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