Chicago State University
Chicago, Illinois · Public · 43.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 16/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Chicago State University scores 16 (Below Benchmark). The completion rate is 15.5%: fewer than 1 in 6 students who enroll earns a degree within 6 years. The 24.3-year payback period reflects average 6-year earnings of $32,200 against a net price of $12,335. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.951 and repayment rate of 34.3% confirm that graduates who do carry debt are struggling significantly to repay it. CSU is a historically Black university on Chicago's South Side serving a predominantly low-income student body (57.9% Pell).
How Chicago State University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score16/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate15.5% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period24.3 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Chicago State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,754/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $12,754/yr |
| Average net price | $12,335/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $49,340 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $42,778 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $30,625 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $325 |
| Estimated payback period | 24.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 15.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,384 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $12,754/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $12,335/year, or roughly $49,340 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $9,073/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,427/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $30,625, which works out to about $325 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($32,200) and comes to 0.95, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,073 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,550 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,334 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,899 |
| $110,001+ | $28,427 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The lowest income bracket (0-$30,000) pays $9,073 per year - an affordable absolute cost. But the 15.5% completion rate means the majority of low-income students who enroll will not earn a degree. With a 24.3-year payback even for completers, and median debt of $30,625, the financial risk for low-income non-completers is severe. The low net price is not a sufficient justification given the institutional outcomes.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the $48,001-75,000 range pay $11,334 per year. These costs are not high, but the completion rate and debt data make the financial risk high regardless of family income.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $28,427 per year - a significant premium over lower brackets that reflects reduced aid for higher-income families. High-income families choosing CSU are an unusual population; those who do attend should understand the institutional risks clearly.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Chicago State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $47,168 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $53,181 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,691 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $45,762 | F |
| Registered Nursing | $92,024 | D |
| Biology | $46,898 | D |
| Sociology | $51,485 | D |
| Teacher Education | $59,296 | D |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $28,643 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is CSU's highest-earning program: 16 graduates, $63,869 year-one, $92,024 at year four. However, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.813 (ROI grade D) is severe - median debt of $51,937 against nursing earnings that are competitive in the Chicago market. Nursing graduates in Chicago can earn well, but the debt load at CSU undermines what should be a strong financial outcome.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration graduates 43 students with $42,882 year-one and $53,181 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.989 (ROI grade D) is near parity - median debt of $42,394 is almost equal to year-one earnings. Monthly debt payments consume a very large share of income from day one. Year-four earnings of $53k are modest for Chicago's business market. The debt-to-earnings ratio reflects the institution's structural over-borrowing problem across programs.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 33 students with $35,419 year-one and $57,691 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.931 (ROI grade D) reflects median debt of $32,974. Year-four earnings of $57k suggest law enforcement or corrections career progression in the Chicago metro, but the near-term debt burden is severe.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 51 students with $29,967 year-one earnings and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.304 (ROI grade F) - median debt of $39,075 against $29,967 year-one earnings. Debt exceeds annual earnings. The program's debt-to-earnings ratio reflects both the modest earnings of psychology graduates and the systematic over-borrowing at CSU.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 26.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 34.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 32.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 36.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Chicago State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 43.3% |
| Enrollment | 1,384 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 57.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,878 |
At 43.3% acceptance with no reported test scores, CSU is moderately selective relative to its outcomes. The admission rate does not reflect strong academic filtering; it likely reflects application volume from students who decide not to attend or who do not complete the application process. Students who are admitted and enroll face serious completion barriers that the institution should address transparently.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Its completion rate is 15.5%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago State University (this school) | 16 | $12,335 | $42,778 |
| Governors State University | 63 | $12,329 | $58,169 |
| Eastern Illinois University | 54 | $12,786 | $51,989 |
| Henderson State University | 25 | $23,405 | $43,459 |
| Western New Mexico University | 17 | $8,522 | $39,095 |
| Lincoln University | 10 | $19,092 | $39,463 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Chicago State University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Chicago State admits 43.3% of applicants, which is more selective than its outcomes might suggest. With only 1,384 enrolled students, the campus is small despite being a public institution. The 57.9% Pell grant rate reflects the predominantly low-income student population that CSU serves on Chicago's South Side. The 15.5% completion rate is the defining institutional challenge: most students who enroll do not finish. Students considering CSU should seek out institutional support resources, academic advising, and financial aid counseling - the completion data indicates structural barriers beyond individual preparation.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Chicago State University scores 16/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $12,335 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $42,778 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 24.3 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 15.5% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.95 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 34.3% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $30,625 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $32,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.95. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Chicago State University: Common Questions
Is Chicago State University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Chicago State University scores 16/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $12,335 a year after aid against $42,778 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 24.3 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Chicago State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $12,335 a year, or roughly $49,340 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Chicago State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $42,778 ten years after enrolling, roughly $978 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Chicago State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 24.3 years for Chicago State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Chicago State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $30,625, against average earnings of $32,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.95. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Chicago State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 15.5%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.