US CollegesGetting in
Chicago State University admits 43% of those who apply, which makes it moderately selective. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees for a year | $13,358 |
| Room and meals on campus | $12,810 |
| Books and supplies | $3,400 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $23,493 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $7,273 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 58% below the median net price of colleges in Illinois on this site ($17,318). International students normally pay the published tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $7,266 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $5,793 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $6,137 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $13,863 |
| Above $110,000 | $8,093 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | IL median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 57% | 72% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 15% | 53% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $48,395 | $58,865 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $29,308 | $19,684 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Illinois and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
65% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 78% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 70% women and 30% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 47 of the 88 colleges in Illinois on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,667.
Other colleges in Illinois of a similar size
- Millikin UniversityDecatur, private nonprofit
- Concordia University-ChicagoRiver Forest, private nonprofit
- Moody Bible InstituteChicago, private nonprofit
- University of St FrancisJoliet, private nonprofit
- Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington, private nonprofit
- Knox CollegeGalesburg, private nonprofit
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Chicago State University?
Chicago State University admits 43% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Chicago State University?
Published tuition and fees are $13,358 a year. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Chicago State University?
15% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.