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Chicago State University

Public Graduate Good 68/100

Chicago State University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Chicago, Illinois

About Chicago State University

Chicago State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Chicago, Illinois. It enrolls 1,384 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: csu.edu

Acceptance: 43.3%
Graduation: 27.1%
Net Price: $12,335
Median Earnings (10yr): $42,778
Enrollment: 1,384
Student : Faculty: 10:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

68/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 2

Value 74

Affordability 88

Selectivity 87

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 43.3%, Chicago State University is a selective institution.

Acceptance Rate

43.3%

Selective

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Chicago State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Getting more selective ↓ 22.8 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Chicago State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,335 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$12,335

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

58%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

78%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $12,754
Room & Board (on-campus): $11,550
Room & Board (off-campus): $32,250
Books & Supplies: $2,400
Other Expenses (on-campus): $5,000
Other Expenses (off-campus): $5,000
Total Cost of Attendance: $29,764

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$9,073
$30,001 – $48,000

$9,550
$48,001 – $75,000

$11,334
$75,001 – $110,000

$13,899
Over $110,000

$28,427

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$4,330

10% percentile

$9,000

25% percentile

$30,625

Median percentile

$38,155

75% percentile

$51,250

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $23,000 ↓ $7,625

No Pell $12,500 ↓ $18,125

Dependent students $15,832 ↓ $14,793

Independent students $24,762 ↓ $5,863

Female students $22,045 ↓ $8,580

Male students $17,500 ↓ $13,125

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $14,250, less than completers ($30,625), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

27% of full-time students who enrolled at Chicago State University graduate within six years, and 52% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

27%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

52%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Chicago State University earn a median of $42,778 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$42,778

Earning > $25K

66%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$35,800

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$44,400

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$35,000

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$42,400

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$48,400

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $8,600, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 21.4 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Concerning. Only 48% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Chicago State University is home to 1,384 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 42% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

1,384

Part-Time

31%

First-Generation

42%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Black 76.9% 1,064

Hispanic 9.8% 136

International 3.0% 42

White 2.7% 37

Asian 1.1% 15

Other 0.6% 8

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Chicago State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large City Chicago, Illinois

Housing

Partly residential 275 beds available

Adult Learners

43% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Predominantly Black Institution (PBI)

What You Can Study

Chicago State University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 53 distinct programs across 20 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

9 Programs

Health

Pharmacy $117K ($79K–$140K)
Rehabilitation $56K ($40K–$74K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)

3 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Human Resources $68K ($50K–$91K)

2 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)

1 Program

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

1 Program

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Chicago State University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Student : Faculty

10:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$37,051

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$7.7M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$78,945

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

152 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	41	27%	$94,623
Associate Professors	41	27%	$85,220
Assistant Professors	41	27%	$72,746
Lecturers	29	19%	$56,674

Pros & Cons of Chicago State University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Chicago State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body

CONS

Selective admissions, solid academic profile expected
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Higher than typical student debt at graduation

Best for: Based on the data, Chicago State University is a fit for students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Chicago State University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Chicago State University.

Is Chicago State University hard to get into?

Chicago State University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 43.3%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.

What is the acceptance rate at Chicago State University?

Chicago State University has an acceptance rate of 43.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Chicago State University cost?

The average net price after aid at Chicago State University is $12,335 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Chicago State University worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,778 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,335 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Chicago State University known for?

Chicago State University is best known for its programs in Psychology, Business Administration, Computer Science. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Chicago State University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Chicago State University are $42,778, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Chicago State University accredited?

Yes. Chicago State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Chicago State University?

Chicago State University enrolls 1,384 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Chicago State University?

Chicago State University graduates 27% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Chicago State University a public or private college?

Chicago State University is a Public institution.

Where is Chicago State University located?

Chicago State University is located in Chicago, Illinois.

What programs does Chicago State University offer?

Chicago State University offers 53 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Business Administration, Computer Science.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Chicago State University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Chicago State University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.