A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at CSU are mostly Black with a small Hispanic population. The school has low racial diversity. 97% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
Chicago State University is designated as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) and receives federal grants supporting the school's efforts to serve low and middle-income Black Americans.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
3%
|
| Black |
75%
|
| Hispanic |
8%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
0%
|
| International |
2%
|
| Race Unknown |
12%
|
There are 144% more female students than male students enrolled at Chicago State University with a gender ratio of 25% women to 10% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, CSU has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is less inclusive of females.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
10%
|
| Women |
25%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
241
|
| Women |
588
|
CSU serves a very low number of students outside of Illinois, with 77 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
77%
|
| Out of State |
20%
|
| Foreign |
3%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
69% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 57.2% |
| Part time Undergrads | 34.3% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=144005 IPEDS survey data for Chicago State University.
Last updated February 24, 2025