Chicago State University
- Graduation Rate
- 16% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,778 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,335 B-
- 28% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 43% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $23.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,111,128.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 16% — 72% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 3.65% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Chicago State University Matters
Chicago State University is a public university in Chicago, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,384
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Humanities, Psychology, Education
Why students choose Chicago State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 43% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,335 a year after grants and scholarships — 28% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,778 ten years after enrolling — 5% above the typical college, against $30,625 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 5% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.19 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Chicago State University has an acceptance rate of 43%, making it a viable option for many students seeking higher education in an urban setting. With an enrollment of 1,384, the university offers a more intimate learning environment, allowing for closer connections between students and faculty.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data is currently unavailable for this institution, but the overall figures suggest a challenging landscape for students. The graduation rate stands at just 16%, indicating that many students may struggle to complete their degrees. This highlights the importance of strong support systems to help students navigate their academic journeys.
In terms of financials, the net price for attending Chicago State University is $12,335, while graduates earn an average of $42,778 a decade after enrollment. However, the median debt of $30,625 poses a significant burden for many graduates. Students who thrive here often come from diverse backgrounds and are motivated to pursue degrees in psychology, business, health professions, and criminal justice, despite the challenges they may face.
Rankings
- #17 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois
- #18 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Illinois
- #20 Best Online Education Programs in Illinois
- #22 Best Communications Colleges in Illinois
- #25 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Illinois
- #25 Best Online Business Programs in Illinois
- #26 Best Online Nursing Programs in Illinois
- #32 Best Computer Science Colleges in Illinois
Can I Get In?
How selective Chicago State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Chicago State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Chicago, Illinois, Chicago State University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 43%. The graduation rate is roughly 16%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 43%
- Retention Rate
- 57%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,878
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.40
- First-Gen Students
- 42%
- Applicants
- 7,404
- Admitted
- 3,592
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Chicago State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Chicago State University is $12,754, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,335. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,073 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $30,625 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $12,754
- Out-of-State
- $12,754
- Avg Net Price
- $12,335
- Median Debt
- $30,625
- Pell Grant Rate
- 58%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 78%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,073
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,550
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,334
- Family Income $110K+
- $28,427
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Chicago State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Chicago State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Chicago State University report median earnings of $42,778, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,805
- 8 Years
- $40,125
- 10 Years
- $42,778
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.72x
- Earning > $25K
- 54%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (21)
- 9%
- 100% (21)
- 9%
- 100% (21)
- 9%
- 100% (21)
- 9%
How Chicago Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Chicago State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Chicago State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,335/year ($49,340 total). Graduates earn $42,778 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,160,468 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,111,128 (23.5× your investment). The median debt is $30,625, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 16% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $49,340
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,160,468
- Net Return
- $1,111,128
- ROI Multiple
- 23.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,335
- Median Debt
- $30,625
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 16%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Chicago State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Chicago State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.65%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 25.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $43,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.65%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 14.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 25.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $59,373
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $7,644,688
- Federal Grants
- $4,248,980
- Investment Income
- $45,852
Top Programs
The fields Chicago State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 15% $43,294 early-career
- Humanities 15%
- Psychology 12% $32,507 early-career
- Education 12% $44,980 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 9% $33,834 early-career
- Criminal Justice 8% $34,984 early-career
- Health Professions 6% $73,447 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Chicago State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Chicago State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Chicago, Illinois, Chicago State University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 43%. The graduation rate is roughly 16%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Chicago State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Chicago State University is $12,754, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,335. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,073 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $30,625 in federal student loans.
Is Chicago State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Chicago State University report median earnings of $42,778, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Chicago State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Chicago State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.65%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 25.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $43,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Chicago State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Chicago State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.19, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Chicago State University.
- Coppin State UniversityBaltimore, MD · Close peer26% grad $46,490 earn 46% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Johnson C Smith UniversityCharlotte, NC · Close peer34% grad $42,680 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Huston-Tillotson UniversityAustin, TX · Close peer35% grad $42,937 earn 39% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of West AlabamaLivingston, AL · Close peer36% grad $44,232 earn 43% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Belhaven UniversityJackson, MS · Close peer50% grad $46,440 earn 50% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Texas A&M University-TexarkanaTexarkana, TX · Close peer30% grad $45,515 earn 64% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Chicago State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Chicago State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.19, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note