AAMU vs. CSU

Deciding between Alabama A & M University and Chicago State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Alabama A & M University
Chicago State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AAMU Normal, AL
  • CSU Chicago, IL
  • Setting
  • AAMU Midsize City
  • CSU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • AAMU 7,295
  • CSU 2,238
  • Type
  • AAMU Public 4 Year
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AAMU #1011
  • CSU #814
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AAMU -
  • CSU -
  • Status
  • AAMU Non-profit
  • CSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AAMU
  • CSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AAMU $10,024
  • CSU $12,754
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AAMU $18,634
  • CSU $12,754
  • Room & Board
  • AAMU $11,402
  • CSU $11,550
  • Average Net Price
  • AAMU $17,152
  • CSU $10,441
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AAMU $12,844
  • CSU $18,194
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AAMU 86%
  • CSU 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AAMU 23,406
  • CSU 10,638
  • Admitted
  • AAMU 13,564
  • CSU 4,602
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AAMU 58%
  • CSU 43.3%
  • Enrolled
  • AAMU 14.5%
  • CSU 3.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AAMU 930
  • CSU 860
  • Typical ACT score
  • AAMU 16
  • CSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • AAMU 3.02
  • CSU 3.18
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AAMU B
  • CSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • AAMU Extremely Easy
  • CSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • AAMU Low
  • CSU Low
  • ACT Range
  • AAMU 14/19
  • CSU 15/19
  • SAT Range
  • AAMU 810/1040
  • CSU 750/963
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AAMU Test optional
  • CSU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • AAMU
  • CSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AAMU 19:1
  • CSU 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AAMU
    • Business (19%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Human Services (6%)
  • CSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (31%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Education (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AAMU 32%
  • CSU 21%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AAMU $34,300
  • CSU $38,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AAMU 25%
  • CSU 25%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AAMU $35,000
  • CSU $31,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AAMU $361
  • CSU $323

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AAMU 41%
  • CSU 30%
  • % Women
  • AAMU 59%
  • CSU 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AAMU Extremely Low
  • CSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • AAMU Yes
  • CSU No
  • % White
  • AAMU 3%
  • CSU 3%
  • % Asian
  • AAMU 0%
  • CSU 1%
  • % Black
  • AAMU 92%
  • CSU 75%
  • % Hispanic
  • AAMU 1%
  • CSU 8%
  • % Native American
  • AAMU 0%
  • CSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AAMU 0%
  • CSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AAMU 0%
  • CSU 0%
  • % International
  • AAMU 1%
  • CSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AAMU 3%
  • CSU 12%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AAMU 45%
  • CSU 70%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AAMU 54%
  • CSU 28%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AAMU Yes
  • CSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AAMU No
  • CSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • AAMU Yes
  • CSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AAMU Yes
  • CSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • AAMU Yes
  • CSU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Alabama A & M University in Normal, AL with Chicago State University in Chicago, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Alabama A & M University is larger than CSU based on total student enrollment (7,295 students vs. 2,238 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Alabama A & M University is located in Normal, AL (Midsize City setting); Chicago State University is in Chicago, IL (Large City setting).
  • Alabama A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Chicago State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Alabama A & M University 19:1; Chicago State University 9:1.

AAMU vs. CSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AAMU or CSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Chicago State University than AAMU ($10,441 vs. $17,152).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alabama A & M University are 1.3% lower than at Chicago State University ($11,402 vs. $11,550).
  • Chicago State University is 27.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than AAMU (about $2,730 more per year; $12,754.00 vs. $10,024.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46.1% higher at AAMU than at Chicago State University (about $5,880 more per year; $18,634.00 vs. $12,754.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chicago State University than at Alabama A & M University (99% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chicago State University students is 41.7% larger than aid received by Alabama A & M University students ($18,194 vs. $12,844).

AAMU vs. CSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AAMU or CSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CSU and AAMU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Alabama A & M University (930) is 70 points higher than at CSU (860).
  • Incoming CSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (17 vs. 16 at AAMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 810/1040; Chicago State University 750/963.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 14/19; Chicago State University 15/19.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AAMU - Test optional; CSU - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.18) than students at AAMU (3.02).
  • AAMU has a higher acceptance rate (58%) than CSU (43.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.5% at AAMU vs. 3.8% at CSU.

AAMU vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AAMU and CSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Alabama A & M University's six-year graduation rate (32%) is higher than Chicago State University's (21%).
  • Graduates from Chicago State University earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than AAMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,300 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Chicago State University graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than AAMU graduates ($31,250 vs. $35,000).
  • Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AAMU graduates ($323 vs. $361).
  • More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AAMU students, three years after graduation. (25% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.