Chicago's most affordable public university, serving 2,500+ students with 60+ degree programs and a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Chicago State University offers 60+ degree and certificate programs through the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, College of Health Sciences & Pharmacy, and Graduate School. The university established an Honors College in 2003 and a College of Pharmacy in 2007. Notable programs include an MFA in African American Literature (the only such program in the country, housed at the Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature and Creative Writing) and a doctoral program in Educational Leadership. The institution maintains a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio with 152 faculty members as of fall 2025.
The 161-acre campus is located on Chicago's South Side at 9501 S. King Drive, between Burnside and Roseland. Key facilities include the Emil and Patricia A. Jones Convocation Center, Jacoby Dickens Center, and a University Library. The university provides on-campus housing and operates the Child Development Laboratory School. Student life includes athletics (NCAA Division I FCS, Northeast Conference), student activities, counseling services, a wellness center, and career development support through the Career Development Center.
For fall 2025, Chicago State accepted 40.5% of undergraduate applicants. Enrolled students averaged a 3.18 high school GPA and 860 SAT score (72% submitting) or 17 ACT score (82% submitting). The university offers no application fee and accepts freshmen, transfer students, international applicants, dual enrollment high school students, returning students, and veterans. Admission pathways include Regular Decision and Transfer admission. The university emphasizes ethical recruitment practices aligned with NACAC and AACRAO standards.
The Career Development Center provides personalized career counseling, interview coaching, job and internship search assistance, and professional skill development. The university reports that bachelor's degree graduates earn an additional $843,000 in lifetime earnings. However, graduation rates have historically been low, dropping to 11% in May 2016, though the university has worked to improve retention and completion through programs like the Rise Academy Scholarship and Honors College Scholarships.