The Wildcats won the NCAA Division II national title in 1997 and 1999, and was runner-up in 2002 and 2006; all four appearances in the finals were under head coach Lindsay Meggs.

The Wildcats softball team won the first AIAW Division III national championship in 1980, led by pitcher Kathy Arendsen.

The Chico State Wildcats competed in the NCAA Tournament across 13 active sports (6 men's and 7 women's) 220 times at the Division II level.

[15][16] College Football Hall of Fame CSU Chico won the NCAA Division II national championships in men's swimming and diving in 1973, 1974 and 1976.

In 2019, the men's rugby team won the Pacific West Conference and went on to the Division I-AA national championship game.