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UIC Northeastern Illinois University DePaul EIU Northern Illinois KU Dominican IU HCC Purdue Chamberlain College of Nursing-Addison Loyola| Chicago State University | VanderCook College of Music | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CSU | VCM | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Chicago, IL | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,324 | 340 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #849 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | csu.edu | vandercook.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CSU | VCM | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,040 | $28,640 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $8,040 | $28,640 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,550 | $7,500 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $9,852 | $16,601 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $19,111 | $22,249 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 100% |
Admission |
CSU | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,458 | 37 | ||
| Admitted | 3,832 | 36 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 40.5% | 97.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 5.8% | 47.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.18 | 3.1 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 15/19 | 15/20 | ||
| SAT Range | 750/963 | 890/1160 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Apr 1, 2026 |
Academics |
CSU | VCM | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 4:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CSU | VCM | ||
| Graduation Rate | 21% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $38,300 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 25% | 66% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $31,250 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $323 | $279 |
Diversity |
CSU | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 32% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 39% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 3% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 75% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 21% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 12% | 2% |
Students |
CSU | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 58% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 20% | 42% | ||
Campus |
CSU | VCM | ||
| 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 VCM based on total student enrollment (2,324 students vs. 340 students)
CSU vs. VCM Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CSU or VCM?
- VanderCook College of Music is 256.2% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($28,640.00 vs. $8,040.00)
- Out of state tuition is 256.2% higher at VCM than Chicago State University ($28,640.00 vs. $8,040.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Chicago State University than VCM ($9,852 vs. $16,601)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at VanderCook College of Music are 54% lower than costs at Chicago State University ($7,500 vs. $11,550)
- More students receive financial grant aid at VanderCook College of Music than Chicago State University (100% vs. 95%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by VanderCook College of Music students is 16.4% larger than aid received Chicago State University ($22,249 vs. $19,111)
CSU vs. VCM Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CSU or VCM? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCM or CSU .
- The average SAT score at VanderCook College of Music (1107) is 232 points higher than at CSU (875)
- Incoming VCM students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at CSU (18)
- Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.18) than students at VCM (3.1)
- VCM has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than CSU (40.5%)
CSU vs. VCM Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CSU or VCM? 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 VCM and CSU.
- The graduation rate at VCM is higher than Chicago State University (45% vs. 21%)
- VanderCook College of Music students graduate with a $4,250 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($27,000 vs. $31,250)
- VCM graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($279 vs. $323)
- More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 25%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/