Chicago State University (CSU)

Public four-year university in Chicago, IL that costs an average of $7,273 a year after financial aid, admits 43% of applicants and graduates 15% of full-time students.

Net price / year
$7,273
Acceptance rate
43%
Graduation rate
15%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$48,395

PublicLarge city1,384 undergraduates

Cost of CSU

Total cost of attendance (per year)$23,493
Tuition and fees, in-state$13,358
Housing and food (on campus)$12,810
Books and supplies$3,400
Average net price after aid$7,273

Net price by family income

Family incomeAverage net price / year
$0–30,000$7,266
$30,001–48,000$5,793
$48,001–75,000$6,137
$75,001–110,000$13,863
$110,001+$8,093

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with CSU's net price calculator ↗.

Admissions

Acceptance rate43%
Test scoresNeither required nor recommended

Graduation, earnings and debt

Graduation rate15%
First-year retention57%
Median earnings 6 years after enrolling$41,342
Median earnings 10 years after enrolling$48,395
Rank in Illinois (earnings)62nd of 65 similar colleges
Median debt of graduates$29,308
Typical monthly loan payment$333 (10-year plan)
Students with Pell grants65%
Students with federal loans78%

Majors and programs at CSU

Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.

Bachelor's degree programs (29)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing32$78,845$30,125
Business Administration, Management and Operations70$56,549$22,890
Criminal Justice and Corrections49$44,754$25,500
Psychology93$43,537$26,250
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities51$41,615$35,645
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication11$36,016—
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education4——
Biology24——
Chemistry6——
Computer Science11——
English Language and Literature3——
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies2——
Fine and Studio Arts10——
Geography and Cartography———
Health and Medical Administrative Services5——
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences9——
History5——
International/Globalization Studies———
Mathematics4——
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions3——
Music5——
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management8——
Physics5——
Political Science and Government7——
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions2——
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics3——
Sociology19——
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods22——
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas5——

Certificate programs (1)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Management Information Systems and Services———

Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (1)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Geography and Cartography———

Master's degree programs (24)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions34$72,607$49,776
Social Work43$63,234$72,249
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education1——
Biology6——
Business Administration, Management and Operations30——
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology41——
Computer Science101——
Criminal Justice and Corrections23——
Curriculum and Instruction7——
Educational Administration and Supervision25——
English Language and Literature———
Geography and Cartography5——
History3——
Human Resources Management and Services10——
Library Science and Administration34——
Management Information Systems and Services———
Mathematics4——
Public Health3——
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing———
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies1——
Special Education and Teaching19——
Student Counseling and Personnel Services7——
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods15——
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas11——

Doctoral degree programs (1)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Educational Administration and Supervision5——

Professional degree programs (1)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration67$84,045$213,284

Graduate certificate programs (11)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology1——
Computer Science———
Geography and Cartography3——
Health and Medical Administrative Services———
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations———
Library Science and Administration———
Management Information Systems and Services———
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions2——
Social Work———
Student Counseling and Personnel Services5——
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas———

Similar colleges in Illinois

CollegeCityNet price / yrAcceptanceEarnings
University of Illinois SpringfieldSpringfield$7,52886%$64,479
Governors State UniversityUniversity Park$15,83348%$61,863
Northeastern Illinois UniversityChicago$9,37775%$56,278
Eastern Illinois UniversityCharleston$12,71765%$55,885
Western Illinois UniversityMacomb$10,01871%$57,175
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale$12,55487%$57,388
Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville$13,11198%$59,436
Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb$14,50570%$61,351

All colleges in Illinois →

About CSU

TypePublic four-year university
LocationChicago, IL
SettingLarge city
Undergraduates1,384
Student-to-faculty ratio9 to 1
AccreditorHigher Learning Commission
Websitecsu.edu ↗

Frequently asked questions

What is CSU's acceptance rate?

Chicago State University admits 43% of applicants, making it selective.

How much does CSU cost per year?

The full cost of attendance is $23,493 a year (tuition and fees: $13,358). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $7,273 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $7,266.

How much do CSU graduates earn?

Former students earn a median of $48,395 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 62nd of 65 similar colleges in Illinois. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($78,845 a year after graduation).

What is CSU's graduation rate?

15% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 57% of first-year students return for a second year.