Chicago State University (CSU): Admissions 2025, Scholarships, Fees 2025, Rankings & Programs

Founded in 1867, the Chicago State University is a public university that evolved from a County Cook teacher’s college to an accredited university. Located in Chicago, Illinois with a 161-acre urban campus the university enrolls over 3,000 students with 2,100+ undergraduate students and nearly 900 graduate students. The university has a diverse student body that represents 38 states, 20 Illinois counties and 12 countries.

CSU offers admissions to students in over 56 programs in fields of Pharmacy, Business, Education, Health Sciences, Arts, Science, etc. at the undergraduate and graduate levels who want to study in the USA. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. With intakes in fall, summer and spring semesters, Chicago State had an acceptance rate of 63% in fall 2023. It must be noted that international students are not eligible to receive financial aid and are therefore responsible to meet the entire expenses for their education. The university ranked among the top #39-#51 public schools in the U.S. News 2023. Check External scholarships to study in US.

The university boasts about an average salary of 44,000 USD for its graduates upon graduation. Companies such as Walgreens, AT&T, Chicago Public Schools, Advocate Health Care, etc. hire students from CSU.

Chicago State University Rankings

The latest rankings of Chicago State University can be found in the table below:

• According to US News and World Reports 2023, CSU ranks
  • #119-#156 in Regional Universities Midwest
  • #141 on Top Performers on Social Mobility
• According to Niche.com 2023 rankings, CSU ranks
  • #198 of 1,596 in best Professors in America
  • #489 in Most Liberal Colleges in America
  • #54 in Most Diverse Colleges in Illinois

Highlights

CSU Campus and Student Residence

Set in the urban setting of Chicago, Illinois, the CSU campus is set on a 161 acres wooded campus including 13 buildings. These include a state of the art library and a 7,000 seat convocation center, serving the University’s academic and cultural needs.

CSU offers on-campus housing and residential programs. The Chicago State University Residence Hall offers an enriched living and learning environment that supports students’ academic, social, cultural and personal development.

The CSU has a suite style co-ed building with a modern, spacious atmosphere. Each room is equipped with desks, dressers, beds, and other amenities. There are no kitchen facilities available and therefore each student is required to have a meal plan.

Chicago State University Courses

• Programs offered at Chicago State University include undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees and post baccalaureate certificates.
• Some of the popular graduate programs offered by the university are Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Master of Fine Arts, Master of Occupational Therapy, Master of Public Health, Master of Social Work, and Master of Business Administration (MBA).
• A weekend MBA program is specially designed for working professionals with concentrations in Finance, Management and Marketing.
• The College of Education at Chicago State offers 3 fully online graduate degrees in MSEd Physical Education, MS Library and Information Science and MS Technology and Performance Improvement Studies.
• Around 9 post-baccalaureate certificates are offered in Computer Security, Community Development, Health Information Administrator, Therapeutic Recreation, Security and Intelligence Studies, etc.

Top Program at CSU

Chicago State University Application Process

Chicago State University is a moderately selective institution. In fall 2022, it had an acceptance rate of 63%. In addition to the general admission requirements, international students are required to provide proof of English language proficiency, financial certification and fulfill the visa requirements for studying in the U.S.

The details of the process of admission to Chicago State University are given below:

Undergraduate Admissions at CSU

Application Portal: CSU Application or Common Application

Application Fee: 100 USD

Application Deadlines: Fall - May 1; Spring - September 1

Admission Requirements: The admission requirements for freshmen admissions to Chicago State University are given below:

• Official high school transcripts
• Proof of English language proficiency
  • TOEFL (iBT): 79
  • IELTS: 7.0
• ACT/ SAT scores
• Personal Essay
• 1 Letters of Recommendation from Teacher/Counselor
• Completed International Data Sheet
• Financial Certificate of Sponsorship in form of bank statement or the sponsor documents showcasing the availability of required funds.
• Copy of Passport

Graduate Admissions at CSU

Application Portal: Online Application

Application Fee: 100 USD

Application Deadlines: Fall - July 15; Spring - November 15; Summer - April 15

Admission Requirements: Graduate applicants must submit the following documents along with the application for admission:

• Academic transcripts of undergraduate degree and secondary education records.
• English Proficiency Testing Results
  • IELTS: 6.0
  • TOEFL (iBT): 69
• Complete the online applicant background summary
• Statement of Purpose
• GRE/GMAT scores
• Resume
• Financial statement
• Certificate of sponsorship

Chicago State University Cost of Attendance

The annual tuition and fees at Chicago State University are subject to change. Students are advised to contact the university regarding the total charges.

The table below shows the estimated tuition and fees that are to be paid by a student at the university.

Chicago State University Scholarships/Financial Aid 

• Chicago State University offers need-based and other scholarships mainly through FAFSA for which the students have to make an application.
• International students must be fully prepared to incur the expenses for studying in the U.S.
• The university does not provide any scholarships, loans, grants, fellowships or any financial aid to the international students.

Chicago State University Alumni Network

Chicago State University manages the alumni through newsletters and yearly meetups. The college observes Black History Month and honors its African American Communities. Some of the notable alumni of the college are:

• Kanye West – Singer
• Dennis DeYoung – Singer
• Karen Yarbrough – Democratic County Clerk
• Willye White – American Olympic athlete

Chicago State University Placements

• 100% of the Pharmacy graduates of the university are employed after graduation.
• On an average, a Chicago State graduate earns around 44,000 USD.
• Among the common employers of the university’s graduates are AT&T, Walgreens, Chicago Public Schools, Advocate Health Care, etc.
• According to Payscale, Chicago State graduates get an average salary of 67,465 USD. The early salary potential of graduates is 47,200 USD.

• The average salaries of graduates according to the job positions as estimated by Payscale are given below:

The Career Center of the university provides assistance for upskilling the students in order to make them job market ready. The center conducts various workshops every year to assist students with writing resumes, cover letters and interview techniques. Students are taught self assessment and mindfulness techniques to handle the job market needs. The college guides students with the do’s and don’ts for working in the U.S., career planning, networking with employers, graduate schools, etc.