Chicago State vs Illinois State

When it comes to higher education in Illinois, Chicago State University (CSU) and Illinois State University (ISU) stand out as two prominent choices. While both offer a diverse range of academic programs and a vibrant campus life, they also have distinct characteristics that set them apart. CSU, located in the heart of Chicago, boasts a higher acceptance rate and a more diverse student body, while ISU, situated in the charming town of Normal, offers a wider selection of undergraduate and graduate programs and a higher graduation rate. To help you make an informed decision about your academic journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into the key differences between these two esteemed institutions. Explore the table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations, personal preferences, and future goals.
Chicago State University logo

Chicago State University

Illinois State University logo

Illinois State University

Overview

Location Chicago, Illinois Normal, Illinois
Campus setting City: Large Suburb: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 41.0% 83.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 47.5% 91.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $30
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A 1000 - 1200
ACT range N/A 21 - 27
Students submitting SAT score 51.0%
Students submitting ACT score 19.0%
Total number of applicants 4,805 11,913
Total number of admissions given out 2,281 10,905
Admitted students who chose to enroll 168 3,374
Yield rate 7.4% 30.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $26,179
In state: $31,811

Out of state: $43,335
Average net price $4,846 $21,033
Tuition $7,488
In state: $11,524

Out of state: $23,048
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,000

Meal plan: $4,400
Room/dormitory: $5,494

Meal plan: $4,652
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

95.0%
Average amount $17,067
91.0%
Average amount $10,848
Students receiving federal student loan 92.0%
Average amount $3,945
46.0%
Average amount $5,065
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $0
8.0%
Average amount $14,532

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,502
Men 30.7% Women 69.3%
17,674
Men 43.0% Women 57.0%
Graduate students 864
Men 30.0% Women 70.0%
2,559
Men 35.1% Women 64.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 4.2%
International students 6.0% 2.8%
Campus local/setting City: Large Suburb: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 300 5,560
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Illinois Missouri Wisconsin Michigan Iowa

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Psychology
  • Business
  • Education
  • Liberal Arts
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 10:1 19:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 21.0% 67.3%
Dropout rate 31.5% 32.0%
Transferred out 43.8% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,786
  • Year 2: $120,252
  • Year 3: $126,376
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,021
  • Year 2: $68,858
  • Year 3: $70,334
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,393
  • Year 2: $61,814
  • Year 3: $69,196
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,652
  • Year 2: $39,639
  • Year 3: $50,599
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $40,368
  • Year 3: $48,532
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,049
  • Year 2: $36,437
  • Year 3: $40,472
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,389
  • Year 2: $29,443
  • Year 3: $37,767
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,482
  • Year 2: $37,856
  • Year 3: $37,056
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,460
  • Year 2: $32,391
  • Year 3: $32,295
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,067
  • Year 2: $27,358
  • Year 3: $31,994
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,556
  • Year 2: $95,930
  • Year 3: $102,485
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,002
  • Year 2: $64,990
  • Year 3: $78,276
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,303
  • Year 2: $72,884
  • Year 3: $77,896
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,576
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $73,936
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,516
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $73,592
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,000
  • Year 2: $64,791
  • Year 3: $70,358
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,829
  • Year 2: $65,194
  • Year 3: $65,533
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,294
  • Year 2: $54,996
  • Year 3: $64,567
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,313
  • Year 2: $52,781
  • Year 3: $64,241
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,480
  • Year 2: $54,470
  • Year 3: $63,207

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The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
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