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Chicago State University

Chicago, IL

Chicago State University at a glance

Chicago State University is a public university in Chicago, Illinois with 2,238 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 43% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published in-state tuition is $12,754 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $12,335 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 15% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 78% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $30,625 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Pharmacy, professional-degree ($132,177) and Nursing (RN), bachelor's ($92,024) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).

Tuition

$12,754

2024-25

Acceptance

43%

Fall 2024 applicants

Students

2,238

Fall 2024

Type

University

Setting

Urban

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition

$12,754

Out-of-State Tuition

$12,754

Avg On-Campus Living

$11,550

Avg Off-Campus Living

$32,250

Financial Aid & Outcomes

College Scorecard

What will it actually cost?

Sticker price: $24,304
Net price (after aid): $12,335

Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.

Net price by family income

$0 – $30k: $9,073
$30k – $48k: $9,550
$48k – $75k: $11,334
$75k – $110k: $13,899
$110k+: $9,392

Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)

At every income level reported here, the average net price is within the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow from the federal government for loans made from 1 July 2026.

The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.

After graduation

Median earnings (10yr): $42,778
Median debt at graduation: $30,625
Est. monthly loan payment: $325

Earnings-to-debt ratio

Weak · 1.4×

Graduates earn about 1.4× their median debt every year.

Financial access

Students on Pell Grants: 58%

Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.

Students with federal loans: 78%

Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.

Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.

How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.

FAFSA earnings check

: Not flagged

Chicago State University does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $59,569, above the $34,790 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in Illinois.

This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.

Which Illinois schools are flagged now

Student Outcomes

Graduation Rate

15%

Freshman Retention

57%

Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)

Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.

Scholarships available

Decision support · Cost & value

Quick Decision Highlights

The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.

Value signal

Lower net price

After typical aid, families pay below the national average.

This school$12.3k
National avg$18.5k
Source: IPEDS 2024

Out-of-state value

$12.8k below avg

Strong aid for lower incomes

Reported net price for the $0–30k band runs below average.

Need-based aid friendly

58% above avg

Affordability snapshot

In-state tuition

$12.8k

Net price

$12.3k

below avg

Pell

58%

above avg

Median debt

$30.6k

Earnings (10y)

$42.8k

“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.

Admissions

Acceptance rate

43%

SAT range

Institution does not report this

Institution does not report this

ACT range

Institution does not report this

Institution does not report this

Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)

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Location

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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school

Institution does not report this

Chicago, IL 60628

Academics

Studying online: a substantial share study entirely online

In Fall 2023, 408 of Chicago State University's 2,324 students (18%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 1,043 (45%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.

Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.

U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023

Fields of study

Chicago State University reported conferring credentials in 36 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.

Campus & Student Life

Area Safety Rating

Decision support

Similar schools

Worth a closer look if Chicago State University caught your interest.

Explore more

Graduate earnings by program

What Chicago State University graduates earn, by program

Chicago State University's bachelor's graduates in Psychology earned a median $47,168 four years after graduating, 7% below the $50,706 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $29,967; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $30,886 in federal loans at this college (about $327 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $39,075 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level).

13 programs at Chicago State University have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.

Median earnings four years after graduating and median federal debt, by program and credential, for Chicago State University (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
ProgramMedian earnings, 4 yrs afterNational medianFederal debt borrowed at this college (median)Payment
Psychology, Bachelor's$47,168$50,706, −7%$30,886$327/mo
Pharmacy, Professional degree$132,177$138,348, −4%$191,403$2,177/mo
Business Administration, Bachelor's$53,181$68,257, −22%$30,497$323/mo
Liberal Arts and General Studies, Bachelor's—$53,072$37,279$395/mo
Criminal Justice, Bachelor's$57,691$55,378, +4%$28,250$299/mo
Rehabilitation and Therapy, Master's$79,288$71,416, +11%$61,462$699/mo
Nursing (RN), Bachelor's$92,024$88,910, +4%$34,060$361/mo
Social Work, Master's$65,619$65,123, about the same$66,359$755/mo
Criminal Justice, Master's—$66,714$54,493$620/mo
Teacher Education (by grade level), Bachelor's$59,296$47,382, +25%$37,500$398/mo
Biology, Bachelor's$46,898$57,214, −18%$25,708$273/mo
Sociology, Bachelor's$51,485$52,657, about the same$31,250$331/mo

Compare what Psychology pays at other colleges

What the job pays locally

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.

Show 1 more program
Median earnings four years after graduating and median federal debt, by program and credential, for Chicago State University (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
ProgramMedian earnings, 4 yrs afterNational medianFederal debt borrowed at this college (median)Payment
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, Bachelor's—$50,497$31,750$337/mo

Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026. Nursing graduates vs RN pay by state: the early-career benchmark.

Frequently asked questions

About Chicago State University

Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.

Where is Chicago State University located?
Chicago State University is located in Chicago, IL, in the United States.
What type of institution is Chicago State University?
Chicago State University is a public university based in IL. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
What is the acceptance rate at Chicago State University?
The most recently reported acceptance rate at Chicago State University is approximately 43% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
What is the tuition at Chicago State University?
Chicago State University's published in-state tuition is approximately $12,754 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
How many students attend Chicago State University?
Chicago State University reports total enrollment of approximately 2,238 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
How much does Chicago State University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Chicago State University is approximately $12,335 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $9,073 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $9,392. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
What is the graduation rate at Chicago State University?
Chicago State University reports a graduation rate of approximately 15% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
How much student debt do graduates of Chicago State University have?
Students who borrowed at Chicago State University left with a median of approximately $30,625 in federal loans, and about 78% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
How much do graduates of Chicago State University earn?
Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $42,778 for students who received federal financial aid at Chicago State University. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
How should I verify final details about Chicago State University?
CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with Chicago State University.
How much do Psychology graduates from Chicago State University earn?
Chicago State University's bachelor's graduates in Psychology earned a median $47,168 four years after graduating, 7% below the $50,706 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $29,967; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $30,886 in federal loans at this college (about $327 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $39,075 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level).
How much do Pharmacy graduates from Chicago State University earn?
Chicago State University's professional-degree graduates in Pharmacy earned a median $132,177 four years after graduating, 4% below the $138,348 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $69,635; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $191,403 in federal loans at this college (about $2,177 a month on a 10-year plan). For context, pharmacists in Illinois are paid a median $139,080 a year across all experience levels (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), a figure for everyone in the job, not only recent graduates.
Which programs at Chicago State University have the highest graduate earnings?
Among the 7 programs at Chicago State University with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Pharmacy, professional-degree ($132,177); Nursing (RN), bachelor's ($92,024); and Rehabilitation and Therapy, master's ($79,288) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
Does Chicago State University get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, Chicago State University's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $59,569, above the $34,790 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in Illinois, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.

Fields this college awarded credentials in

The 14 largest of 36 fields Chicago State University reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.

Fields Chicago State University reported conferring credentials in during 2024-25, with the number awarded and the highest credential level.
FieldAwardedLevel
Computer Science75Graduate (62 graduate · 13 bachelor's)
Business Administration, Management and Operations51Graduate (14 graduate · 37 bachelor's)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities37Bachelor's
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods37Graduate (17 graduate · 20 bachelor's)
Library Science and Administration30Graduate
Psychology, General29Bachelor's
Criminal Justice and Corrections28Graduate (9 graduate · 19 bachelor's)
Biology, General23Graduate (2 graduate · 21 bachelor's)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions18Graduate
Educational Administration and Supervision17Graduate
Special Education and Teaching14Graduate
History13Graduate (8 graduate · 5 bachelor's)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing12Bachelor's
Social Work12Graduate

Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.

Data sources & methodology

Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.

Facts on this profile of Chicago State University are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.

Sources used across this page

Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.

Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.

Suggested citation

CampusPin. (2024). Chicago State University, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/chicago-state-university

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