CSU Admission Requirements
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- Chicago, IL
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CSU Admission Overview
CSU admission requirements are competitive. Last year CSU admitted 43.3% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen typically had about a 3.18 GPA (B+). CSU is test-free. SAT and ACT are not used for admission. Those figures describe last year's class, not a score you must hit.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
CSU is test-free. SAT and ACT are not used, even if you send them.
CSU Acceptance Rate
Admission Rate & Difficulty
Acceptance rate Share of applicants offered admission last year.
Admission Standards Measure of enrolled testers' SAT/ACT scores vs. other colleges.
Applicant Competition Measure of this school's acceptance rate vs. other colleges. A low acceptance rate indicates high competition.
Average
Admission difficulty for Chicago State University
Acceptance Rate
The CSU acceptance rate is 43.3%. Last year, 4,602 of 10,638 applicants were admitted. That is the 7th lowest acceptance rate in Illinois and the 188th lowest in the nation.
Admission Selectivity
How hard is it to get into CSU and can you get accepted?
CSU is a competitive school to get into, turning away a substantial share of applicants. You have a good chance of acceptance if you meet last year's profile.
Chicago State University typically attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.18. 4% of those admitted chose to enroll.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
CSU GPA
GPA of enrolled freshmen
Avg. High School GPA The average high school GPA for incoming freshmen on a 4.0 scale.
3.18Typical High School Grades Letter grade on a 4.0 scale for last year's average, not a cutoff.
B+Average GPA (4.0 Scale) 3.18
Average GPA
Enrolled freshmen at CSU typically have around a 3.18 GPA (B+) on a 4.0 scale. That is last year's class average, not a cutoff. Enrolled students typically have about average high school grades. CSU is test-free, so GPA is the main academic number in the file.
The school ranks #47 in Illinois for highest average GPA.
See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.2 GPA range.
Competitiveness by GPA Ranges
Share of last year's freshmen in each GPA range, compared with the rest of the class.
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2024
CSU SAT Scores
SAT scores of enrolled freshmen
SAT Range The middle 50% of enrolled testers from the last year SAT scores were reported. The maximum score is 1600.
750-963Freshmen who sent SAT Share of enrolled freshmen who submitted SAT scores, from the last year SAT scores were reported.
72%25th Percentile Scores
- Reading 420
- Math 330
- Composite 750
75th Percentile Scores
- Reading 510
- Math 453
- Composite 963
Average SAT
Enrolled testers at CSU typically score around a 860 SAT (middle 50% 750–963) out of 1600. These figures are from the last year SAT scores were reported, not a cutoff. SAT is not used for admission, even if you send it. The average SAT of enrolled testers is about the 17th percentile nationally. CSU ranks #51 in the state of Illinois for highest average SAT composite score.
SAT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 750 to 963
View other colleges which accept students in the 860 SAT score range.
SAT scores are from the last year they were reported to IPEDS. They are not used for admission.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
CSU ACT Scores
ACT scores among enrolled freshmen
ACT Range Mid-50 ACT composite among enrolled testers in the last year ACT scores were reported. The scale tops out at 36.
15-19Freshmen reporting ACT Percent of enrolled freshmen who reported ACT, from the last year ACT scores were reported.
82%25th Percentile Scores
- English 16
- Math 16
- Composite 15
75th Percentile Scores
- English 20
- Math 18
- Composite 19
Average ACT
Incoming testers at CSU typically have around a 17 ACT (mid-50 15–19) on the 36 scale. These numbers come from the last year ACT scores were reported, not a minimum for admission. ACT is not considered, even if you submit it. That average sits near the 31st percentile of ACT takers nationwide. CSU places #47 among colleges in Illinois for highest average ACT composite.
ACT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 15 to 19
See colleges with similar ACT profiles in the 17.0 ACT score range.
ACT figures reflect the last year they were reported to IPEDS. They are not used in admission.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Estimate How You Compare
Compare your GPA with last year's enrolled class and this school's acceptance rate. SAT and ACT are not used.
Open the CSU chances calculatorApplying
Admission Statistics
Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed in the table below.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Chicago State University and what student information is used for admission decisions?
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Chicago State University is $25.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Credits Accepted
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Admission summary
CSU is test-free for 2024-25. Last year it admitted 43.3% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen typically had about a 3.18 GPA (about an B+ average). Mid-50 scores, where shown, are enrolled testers, not cutoffs.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Other Colleges to Apply To
Students applying to Chicago State University often consider these colleges
Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=144005.
GPA calculator: Chicago State University GPA calculator.
Last updated: August 2026