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Chicago State University
Chicago State University admits a bit under 50% of applicants; strong grades put you in the conversation at Chicago State University, and the data below says what "strong" means.
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Chicago State University sits in Chicago proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $92,024 four years out. 57.9% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 1,384 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 57.3% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Chicago State University won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Chicago State University received 9,458 applications and admitted 3,832 (40.5%), with 223 enrolling.
Leave the SAT prep out of this one — test scores are disregarded entirely. Chicago State University's 43.3% admission rate turned on grades and application strength.
How Chicago State University compares
| Chicago State University | Illinois median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 43.3% | 77% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $12,754 | $31,360 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $42,778 | $58,572 | $53,781 |
At $42,778, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($58,572). Look at Chicago State University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $12,754 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $12,754. For non-residents, Chicago State University's $12,754 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
Enrollment sits at 1,384 — Chicago State University is one of the smaller campuses on this site.
Fewer than half of Chicago State University students — 15.5% — finish within six years. That number should shape how much debt feels safe.
Top majors by earnings at Chicago State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $92,024 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $59,296 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,691 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $53,181 |
| Sociology | $51,485 |
| Psychology, General | $47,168 |
| Biology, General | $46,898 |
Median earnings for these 7 Chicago State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $42,778 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 22 additional Chicago State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Chicago State University?
Chicago State University doesn't look at test scores; its 43.3% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is Chicago State University's acceptance rate?
40.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 3,832 admitted from 9,458 applicants.
How much does Chicago State University cost?
In-state tuition is $12,754; out-of-state students pay $12,754. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Chicago State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $42,778 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Illinois
- Hebrew Theological College — 57.1% admitted
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — 42.4% admitted
- Illinois Wesleyan University — 39.3% admitted
- Illinois Institute of Technology — 54.9% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.