Cal State East Bay vs Chico State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs in the CCAA. Cal State East Bay lists $1,009 less in out-of-state tuition; Chico State graduates 18 points more of its students.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean Cal State East Bay if…
- You would be in-state: Cal State East Bay is $1,009 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Chico State.
Lean Chico State if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Chico State graduates 18 percentage points more of its students than Cal State East Bay.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | Cal State East Bay | Chico State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $7,055 — Cal State East Bay leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $8,064 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $18,935 — Cal State East Bay leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $19,944 |
| Room & board | $16,480 | $16,020 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $23,535 | $24,084 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $35,415 | $35,964 |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | Cal State East Bay | Chico State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 46% | 64% — Chico State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | Cal State East Bay | Chico State |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 13,333 | 14,523 |
| Where it is | Hayward, CA | Chico, CA |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | Cal State East Bay | Chico State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Claire Sua-Amundson | Angel Shamblin |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | Cal State East Bay | Chico State |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division II, so the scholarship rules are identical: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Cal State East Bay
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Chico State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Cal State East Bay vs Chico State: common questions
- Is Cal State East Bay or Chico State cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $35,415 a year out of state in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Cal State East Bay or Chico State?
- Chico State, at 64% against 46% at Cal State East Bay (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Cal State East Bay and Chico State offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division II: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Cal State East Bay and Chico State?
- Both programs run a recruiting questionnaire, and that is the right first move — it is exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit it at any age. Fill out both, then follow with an email to each staff.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for Cal State East Bay and Chico State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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