CSU vs. AAC

Should I go to Chicago State University or Art Academy of Cincinnati? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CSU or AAC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Chicago State University vs. Art Academy of Cincinnati comparison
Chicago State University Art Academy of Cincinnati College 3 College 4
Chicago State University Art Academy of Cincinnati
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Overview

CSU AAC
Location Chicago, IL Cincinnati, OH
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 2,317 263
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #870
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csu.edu artacademy.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CSU AAC
Tuition (In State) $7,656 $35,404
Tuition (Out of State) $7,656 $35,404
Room & Board $13,800 $10,500
Avg Net Price $6,446 $27,510
Avg Grant Aid $15,891 $17,764
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 100%

Admission

CSU AAC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,404 426
Admitted 3,592 426
Acceptance Rate 48.5% 100%
Enrolled % 4.8% 20.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.18 3.1
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/19
SAT Range 750/963
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

CSU AAC
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (31%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)

Outcomes

CSU AAC
Graduation Rate 21% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,300 $30,400
Making Student Loan Payments 25% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,250 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $323 $279

Diversity

CSU AAC
% Men 33% 26%
% Women 67% 74%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 3% 79%
% Black 75% 10%
% Hispanic 8% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 12% 1%

Students

CSU AAC
% In-State 77% 64%
% Out-of-State 20% 35%

Campus

CSU AAC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Chicago State University is larger than than AAC based on total student enrollment (2,317 students vs. 263 students)

CSU vs. AAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or AAC?

  • Art Academy of Cincinnati is 362.4% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($35,404.00 vs. $7,656.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 362.4% higher at AAC than Chicago State University ($35,404.00 vs. $7,656.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Chicago State University than AAC ($6,446 vs. $27,510)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Academy of Cincinnati are 31.4% lower than costs at Chicago State University ($10,500 vs. $13,800)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Art Academy of Cincinnati than Chicago State University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Art Academy of Cincinnati students is 11.8% larger than aid received Chicago State University ($17,764 vs. $15,891)

CSU vs. AAC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or AAC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AAC or CSU .

  • The average SAT score at Art Academy of Cincinnati (963) is 88 points higher than at CSU (875)
  • Incoming AAC students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at CSU (18)
  • Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.18) than students at AAC (3.1)
  • AAC has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than CSU (48.5%)

CSU vs. AAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CSU or AAC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between AAC and CSU.

  • The graduation rate at AAC is higher than Chicago State University (44% vs. 21%)
  • Graduates from Chicago State University earn on average $7,900 more per year than AAC graduates after ten years. ($38,300 vs. $30,400)
  • Art Academy of Cincinnati students graduate with a $4,250 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($27,000 vs. $31,250)
  • AAC graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($279 vs. $323)
  • More AAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/