Chicago State University

Chicago State University's program mix reflects a Liberal Arts-oriented identity, with Business representing 12% of graduates, Education at 7%, and Social Sciences at 4%. The largest programs by enrollment are General Studies with 44 graduates, followed by Psychology, General with 42 graduates earning median earnings of $47,168 four years after enrollment, Criminal Justice with 35 graduates earning $57,691, Business Administration with 35 graduates earning $53,181, and Nursing with 26 graduates earning $92,024.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 272 students annually, earnings outcomes vary meaningfully by field. The highest-earning programs at Chicago State University cluster in applied and professional fields.

Nursing leads with median earnings of $92,024 four years after enrollment across 26 graduates, followed by Teacher Education with 13 graduates earning $59,296, Criminal Justice with 35 graduates earning $57,691, Business Administration with 35 graduates earning $53,181, and Psychology, General with 42 graduates earning $47,168. These earnings patterns reflect the institution's positioning as an accessible urban public university where program choice significantly shapes early-career financial outcomes.

Many of Chicago State University's programs in the liberal arts and social sciences prepare graduates for direct workforce entry in education, public administration, and community-based roles where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with regional and national labor-market demand in the Chicago metropolitan area and beyond.

Chicago State University's published cost of attendance is $29,764. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public tuition structure and need-based aid availability: low-income families pay approximately $9,073, middle-income families pay around $11,334, and higher-income families pay approximately $28,427.

Azimuth ranks Chicago State University #540 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Chicago State University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside state and institutional aid. The gap between published cost of attendance and actual net price can be substantial, particularly for low-income students — see [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) for how sticker price and net price diverge at many institutions.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $30,625, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,256; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,486, median federal debt of $30,625 projects to a monthly payment of about $346 under standard ten-year repayment.

For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Chicago State University earn median 4-year earnings of $56,486, placing Chicago State University in the 31.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,756 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Chicago State University in the 41.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Chicago State University #952 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect a liberal arts foundation that emphasizes broad intellectual development alongside career preparation, with graduates moving into diverse professional fields across education, business, social services, and public administration.

The program landscape at Chicago State University is anchored in Liberal Arts, which shapes the institution's earnings profile. General Studies is the largest program with 44 graduates, followed by Psychology, General with 42 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $47,168 — 0.9x the national benchmark for the field.

The Criminal Justice program graduates 35 students with median 4-year earnings of $57,691, while Business Administration and Nursing round out the top five, each graduating 35 and 26 students respectively with 4-year earnings of $53,181 and $92,024. The concentration in liberal arts fields reflects Chicago State University's mission as an accessible urban public institution serving Chicago's diverse student population, with outcomes that position graduates for stable, meaningful careers in fields central to the region's economy.