Admissions

Undergraduate Admission

Chicago State University admits academically qualified students on the basis of individual merit and without regard to race, color, national origin, creed, sex, or physical disability. For information regarding graduate admission requirements and graduate course listings, reference the Graduate Catalog, or call the Office of Graduate Studies at 773-995-2404, or visit the office in Room 129, Cook Administration Building.

Applicants will be considered for admission to the university if they meet the requirements specified under any of the following headings.

• Freshmen Applicants
• Transfer Applicants
• Second Degree Applicants 
• International Students 

Applicants who desire to enroll for a limited period at the university may find information about these opportunities under the following heading.

• Visiting Student Applicants 

Former undergraduate students of Chicago State University who were in good academic standing at the time of withdrawal and who wish to re-enroll after an absence of two or more years.

• Readmission Applicants

Current high-achieving high school students in the third or fourth year of education who desire an opportunity to earn college credits while completing high school.

• Dual Enrollment Applicants

Applying for Admission

General admission is granted three times a year for fall, summer and spring semester. All undergraduate applicants who wish to attend CSU can apply using the CSU Cougar Application at www.csu.edu. New incoming first-time freshmen can also submit an application via Common App, www.commonapp.org. Paper applications are no longer accepted.

Applicants are encouraged to complete the application by the priority application deadlines for an early decision. Additionally, students need to apply by the Priority Deadline to be considered for the University Honors Program and merit-based scholarships. Regular admission applicants will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis for admissions, availability for merit scholarships, and financial aid.

Documents Required for Admission

Admissions documents required to complete an application must be submitted electronically to the Office of Admissions at admissions@csu.edu or via the Common App for freshman applicants (www.commonapp.org) or via mail to:

Documents not sent directly to the Office of Admissions will not be considered official. Official transcripts are required for all schools attended.

Admission to Academic Major Programs

Applicants declare their major on their university admission application, indicating their area of interest. However, declaring a major does not guarantee admission to a degree program in that specific area. This catalog’s “TBD” section details the procedures for officially declaring a major.

Application Deadlines

The below application deadlines will be used for domestic applicants who are applying for freshman, transfer, transfer freshman, and second-bachelor degree programs.

The below application deadlines will be used for international applicants who are applying for freshman, transfer, transfer freshman, and second-bachelor degree programs. 

The below application deadlines will be used for readmission applicants.

The application deadlines below will be used for dual enrollment applicants.

Undergraduate Freshman Student Admission

A freshman applicant is an individual who has graduated or is about to graduate from high school and is seeking admission to Chicago State University for the first time. This category also includes students who are currently taking college-level courses while still enrolled in high school. Additionally, home-schooled students and those who have attained high school equivalency through the General Education Development (GED) certificate are considered freshman applicants. Freshman applicants are evaluated based on their high school academic performance, including coursework and GPA, and may also submit standardized test scores and other supplemental materials.

Individuals will be considered for admission based on the following criteria, with an unweighted GPA being considered:

• Applicants who have graduated or will graduate from a secondary school before enrollment at CSU will be assessed using the following criteria:
• Applicants with a GPA of at least 2.50 on a 4.00 scale are eligible for admittance to CSU.
• Applicants with a GPA between 2.00 and 2.49 on a 4.00 scale are eligible for admittance to CSU after the completion of an interview for Success U. 

ACT/SAT Test Scores Not Required 

CSU is test-optional, which means applicants are not required to submit test scores. Students who are interested in sending standardized test scores can request that ACT or SAT official scores be sent to Chicago State University-code 0992 by contacting the agencies at ACT at www.act.org or via phone at  319-337-1313 or SAT at www.collegeboard.org or via phone at 609-771-7600.

Required Documentation 

• CSU Cougar Application or Common Application 
• Official High School Transcript, GED, HiSET test results, or Home-schooled Portfolio.
• $25 non-refundable application fee (or fee waiver)
• Optional: Official ACT/SAT Test Scores 
• Optional: Letter of Recommendation
• Optional: Official ACT/SAT Test Scores 
• Optional: Personal Statement or Essay

Undocumented Applicants

To be granted admission to Chicago State University, a prospective undocumented student must submit an application via the common app (www.commonapp.org) or via the school website (www.csu.edu). To complete the application, a prospective student must submit the requirements listed below by category. Undocumented students must meet the admission requirements of any student type based on the application that is submitted, regardless of citizenship or residency.

In addition to the admission requirements, undocumented students must complete and submit the CSU Affidavit Form to the Admissions Office immediately after applying. This is an oath made in writing stating that the student meets the admissions conditions and will apply for legal residency as soon as they are eligible to do so. The affidavit is kept confidential by CSU. The student who fails to file an affidavit will be charged out-of-state tuition.

Course Requirements

Applicants with a high school diploma must meet the following subject requirements: 4 years of English, 3 years of Math, 3 years of Social Studies, 3 years of Science, and 2 years of foreign language, music, vocational education, or art.

Applying as a Freshman being Home-schooled

Home-schooled applicants must submit an official high school transcript (which includes transcripts submitted by a parent/teacher).

Official high school transcript should include: 

• A summary of course content may be requested. Include details of your completed and current coursework, including grades for each course, beginning with the 9th grade. The transcript MUST include the signature of the individual who prepared it.
• The transcript MUST be signed by hand and sent to CSU via postal mail with the return address of the preparing person or entity.

Applying as a Freshman with a GED

Applicants who are not high school graduates must have attained high school equivalency through General Educational Development (GED) or HiSET tests.

In addition to a GED or HiSET passing score of 225 or higher, applicants will be required to submit qualitative information such as a personal statement(s), and/or an admissions interview that looks for characteristics that can include special talents, significant activities and accomplishments, leadership potential, personal commitment, and goal orientation.

SuccessU Program

SuccessU is for students who have had no prior college experience. International undergraduate students also do not qualify for entrance into the SuccessU program. The program requires the student to complete an information session and interview and participate in and complete a bridge program. A final admission decision is sent to the student in writing. Students in the SuccessU program must complete a specialized curriculum during their first year before being transferred to their major department. Students who do not complete the curriculum in a timely fashion are subject to review and dismissed from the university.

The SuccessU Program is an admission pathway designed to assist students in gaining the skills needed to strengthen their academic performance during the first year of college and to be fully prepared to transition into the program they aspire to pursue. Applicants are considered for the program based on GPA and course pattern.

For more information about the program, go to https://www.csu.edu/academicsupport/successU.htm or call (773)995-2478. SuccessU is located in the Office of Academic Support in the Student Union, Room 158.

Undergraduate Transfer Student Admission

To be granted admission to Chicago State University, a prospective transfer student must submit an application via the school website at www.csu.edu.  To complete the application, a prospective student must submit the requirements listed below by category. All post-secondary coursework must be completed at a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Transfer Applicants

Applicants who have earned an Associate degree or have more than 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours of graded college-level coursework must  submit the following requirements to complete the admission application:

• CSU Cougar Application 
• Official College transcript(s) from each college or university attended
• $25 non-refundable application fee (or fee waiver)

Transfer Freshman Applicants

Applicants who have earned less than 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours of earned college level coursework must also meet freshman requirements which are listed below and submit the following to complete the admission application:

• CSU Cougar Application 
• Official College transcript(s) from each college or university attended
• Official High School transcript, GED test results, or home-schooled portfolio
• $25 non-refundable application fee (or fee waiver)
• Optional: Official ACT/SAT Test Scores 
• Optional: Letter of Recommendation

Second Bachelor’s Degree Applicants

Applicants who have earned a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and applying to pursue a second Bachelor’s degree submit the following requirements to  complete the admission application:

• CSU Cougar Application 
• Official College transcript(s) from each college or university attended
• $25 non-refundable application fee (or fee waiver)

Visiting Student Admission

Visiting students are individuals who are not seeking a degree at Chicago State University and need to take a credit-bearing course. Visiting students may complete up to 30 semester hours at Chicago State University.

Undergraduate students may attend the university as visiting students in one of the following categories:

• Individuals who attend or attended a regionally accredited college or university and who can demonstrate good academic standing at the last institution attended or
• Individuals who have graduated from an accredited high school and who can demonstrate good academic standing or
• Individuals who wish to enroll as part of a special program or a cooperative agreement between the university and another institution.

To be considered a visiting student, a prospective applicant must submit the application via the school website at www.csu.edu and submit the following requirements:

• CSU Cougar Application 
• $25 non-refundable application fee 
• Verification of good academic standing (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) at the last college/university attended (official or unofficial transcript, last grade statement showing cumulative GPA or letter from the registrar or dean of the college). 

Visiting students are not eligible for financial aid or merit scholarships and will not receive an evaluation of previous college credit.

Dual Enrollment Admission

Dual Enrollment students-at-large are high-achieving high school students in the third or fourth year of education who desire an opportunity to earn college credits while completing high school.

Students may register for and attend classes at the university. Participating students may register for one lower-division course per semester or summer term. To be considered a Dual Enrollment student, a prospective  applicant must submit the online application via the school website at www.csu.edu and submit the following requirements:

• CSU Cougar Application
• High School transcript demonstrating good standing
• Recommendation Form from a school counselor
• Parental Consent Form                              
• No application fee for terms Spring, Summer, and Fall 2024

International Applicants

An international applicants is an individual who is not a citizen or a United States permanent resident. International students must submit the following supplemental information in addition to meeting the academic standards for admission.

• Originals or true copies of all secondary and post-secondary educational records. All documents in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation from a National  Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), www.naces.org, approved credential evaluation company. All documents from institutions outside the United States must be accompanied by an evaluation from a NACES-approved organization.

• Official English language proficiency scores (See English language Proficiency Policy below).

English Language Proficiency Policy for International Applicants

International applicants who do not have a degree from a high school, college, or university in the United States or a country where English is a primary and foundational language as well as the language of instruction for that degree must submit proof of English language proficiency. The accepted English language proficiency exams are Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Pearson Test of English - Academic (PTE-A), and International Test of English Proficiency - Academic Plus (iTEP). The date of the exam for the score used must be within two years of the student’s application date.

International applicants who meet one of the criteria below may waive the English language proficiency requirement:

• Applicant has completed a minimum of 24 semester credit hours or 36 quarter hours of earned credit from an accredited U.S. college or university.
• Applicant has a degree from a high school, college, or university in the United States or a country where English is a primary and foundational language as well as the language of instruction for that degree may  waive the English language proficiency requirement.

The list of accepted countries includes: Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda,  British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), England, Ghana, Ireland,  Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Scotland, South Africa, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, US territories (US  Virgin Islands, Guam, Micronesia), and Wales.

Freshman international applicants can only waive the English language proficiency requirement if they are submitting a satisfactory SAT or ACT score with their application. ACT composite of 18 or SAT composite of 960. 

International Freshman Applicants

International applicants who are currently in high school or have earned a high school diploma and have never attended college must submit the following:

• CSU Cougar Application 
• $50 non-refundable application fee (no waiver will be granted to international applicants)
• Originals or true copies of all secondary educational records. (All documents in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation from a NACES-approved credential evaluation company. All documents from institutions outside the United States must be accompanied by an evaluation from a NACES-approved organization).  Applicants must meet a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale.
• Proof of English language proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE-A, or iTEP)
• Optional: The submission of ACT or SAT scores is for applicants
• Optional: Letter of Recommendation

International Transfer Applicants

A international transfer applicant is an individual who has earned an associate degree or who has completed more than 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours of graded credit from a college or university. International transfer applicants must submit the following:

• CSU Cougar Application 
• $50 non-refundable application fee (no waiver will be granted to international applicants)
• Originals or true copies of all post-secondary educational records. (All documents in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation from a NACES-approved credential evaluation company. All documents from institutions outside the United States must be accompanied by an evaluation from a NACES-approved organization).  Applicants must meet a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Proof of English language proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE-A, or iTEP)

International Transfer Freshman Applicants

International transfer applicants that do not meet the minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours completed at a college or university will be considered international transfer freshman applicants. In addition to the transfer applicant requirements, these transfer freshman applicants would also need to submit:

• CSU Cougar Application 
• $50 non-refundable application fee (no waiver will be granted to international applicants)
• Original or true copies of all secondary and post-secondary educational records. (All documents in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation from a NACES-approved credential evaluation company. All documents from institutions outside the United States must be accompanied by an evaluation from a NACES-approved organization).
• Proof of English language proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE-A, or iTEP)
• Optional: The submission of ACT or SAT scores is for applicants
• Optional: Letter of Recommendation

Readmission

Former undergraduate students of Chicago State University who were in good academic standing at the completion of the last semester of attendance and who wish to reenter after an absence of two or more consecutive years must submit the following to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Cook Administration Building, Room 101:

• CSU Cougar Application 
• Official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended during absence from CSU.

Readmitted students must meet the degree requirements applicable to their program of study for the term in which they are readmitted. To change degree programs, students must contact their readmitted department and complete a change of major form.

International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement and CLEP Credit Policy

Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit are accepted for credit at Chicago State University up to a maximum of 66 semester credit hours from a two-year college or a maximum of 88 semester credit hours from a  four-year institution. Please refer to the Transfer Credit and Transfer Student Policy sections of this catalog.

Chicago State University accepts credit for IB (International Baccalaureate) courses and/or AP (Advanced Placement) exams if they meet specific criteria as listed. Students who want to know if their AP or IB credit will be accepted should contact the Office of Evaluations in Room ADM 128 or contact their academic advisor.

Official score reports from IB, AP and CLEP are required to determine the number of credits that will be accepted and their course equivalencies. Official transcripts indicating the completion of IB coursework and/or official copies of AP exam scores from the College Board need to be submitted in order to  receive college-level credit.

Please submit all official copies to:

Transfer Credit and Transfer Student Policy

Chicago State University will accept a maximum of 66 semester credit hours from a two-year college or a maximum of 88 semester credit hours from a four-year institution. Transfer credit applied to meet the University General Education Requirements will be accepted with a “D” grade. Courses with a grade of “D” may not be used as prerequisites for a required course in the major.

Transfer Students with AA or AS Degrees

Students who transfer to Chicago State University with an Associate of Arts (AA) or an Associate of Science (AS) degree that fully satisfies the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) standards will be deemed to have completed all university general education requirements, including those university requirements that exceed the Illinois General Education Core Curriculum. However, this policy will not override the requirements of any college, department, program, or major.

Students who transfer to Chicago State University without an Associate of Arts (AA) or an Associate of Science (AS) degree, but with 75 or more credit hours and have completed the Illinois GECC requirements before transferring, will be deemed to have completed all university general education requirements, including those university requirements that exceed the Illinois General Education Core Curriculum. However, this policy will not override the requirements of any college, department, program, or major.

Students who transfer to Chicago State University with an Associate of Arts (AA) or an Associate of Science (AS) degree that fully satisifes the Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education Core Curriculum standards will not be required to take proficiency examinations in English and Mathematics. However, if individual courses in specific majors require a passing score on a proficiency examination as a prerequisite, all students, including transfer students, must satisfy the prerequisite by taking the proficiency examination.

Evaluation of Credit

• Every effort will be given to provide transfer students with an evaluation of credits that will apply to their major prior to registration their first semester at Chicago State University. Official evaluations, however, will not be prepared from unofficial documents. Any delay in submitting official transcripts may adversely affect financial aid, acceptance of transfer credit, and advising.
• The university only accepts credit from regionally accredited institutions for college-level classes. Transfer courses will be evaluated on an individual basis to determine how credit meets Chicago State University’s graduation requirements and the requirements of the respective college, department, and program option. Transfer credit applied to meet the University General Education Requirements will be accepted with a “D” grade. Courses with a grade of “D” may not be used as prerequisites for a required course in the major. Students who have a combination of two- and four-year colleges may transfer a maximum of 88 hours. Developmental, remedial, vocational, study skills, college survival practicum, ESL, and other similar courses do not transfer.
• The university recognizes that students may acquire knowledge through means other than formal college-level courses. Therefore, a program of credit by examination has been established to award college-level credit to students who demonstrate that they have satisfied college-level course requirements. A student may earn up to a maximum of 60 credit hours by examination. However, in combination with transfer credit, no student may have more than 66 credit hours of evaluated credit applied to their record, if they attended a two-year school, or 88 credit hours of evaluated credit, if they attended a four-year school. Methods currently available are: (1) the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), (2) the Advanced Placement (AP) Program, (3) credit for military training, and (4) university administered and/or constructed proficiency examinations.
• Chicago State University will award college credit to adult learners enrolled in non-traditional studies programs based on the American Council on Education (ACE) Credit Recommendation’s National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs. This credit is subject to the general policies governing transfer credits and departmental policies. Students offering ACE-approved credits enrolled in traditional programs will also be considered on an individual basis following departmental and university guidelines and policies governing acceptance of transfer credits.
• All course work can be viewed in CSU X-Press approximately three weeks after submission of official transcripts. Transcripts for evaluation received during peak periods may require additional to be evaluated.

Illinois Articulation Initiative

Chicago State University is a participant in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide agreement that allows transfer of the completed Illinois General Education Core Curriculum between participating institutions. Completion of the transferable General Education Core Curriculum or completion of an AA or AS degree at any participating college or university in Illinois assures transferring students that university general education requirements for the bachelor’s degree have been satisfied. Students who have completed 75 or more hours from a combination of two-year and four-year institutions and who have completed the Illinois General Education Core Curriculum are considered to have completed their general education requirements. The Illinois Articulation Initiative also includes recommended freshman-level and sophomore-level courses for specific majors. Major courses are identified for disciplines in art, biology, business, chemistry, computer science, criminal justice, early childhood education, English, history, mathematics, political science, psychology, sociology, and theater arts. Students should always consult with an academic advisor when planning to transfer, and read about the Illinois Articulation Initiative at www.itransfer.org.

State Seal of Biliteracy 

The State Seal of Biliteracy is a recognition given to graduating high school students who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in English and in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in another language.

According to the Illinois State Board of Education, the State Seal of Biliteracy “recognizes public high school graduates who have attained a high level of  proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English.” Through HB  4330, the School Code was amended to include the Seal of Biliteracy. For more information, go to https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Illinois-State- Seal-of Biliteracy.aspx

Chicago State University (CSU) accepts the State Seal of Biliteracy. CSU translates the State Seal of Biliteracy into foreign language course credits based on course equivalencies identified by CSU.

It is the student’s responsibility to request course credit based on an earned State Seal of Biliteracy. A student must request course credit for their seal within two academic years after graduating from high school.

Once requested, a student who has received the State Seal of Biliteracy will be awarded a total of 6 credits (lower division). This is the equivalent of first semester (3 credits) and second semester (3 credits) of language study at CSU.  When the seal is granted in a language not offered at Chicago State University, 6 credit hours of lower division foreign language elective will be awarded.

Requests should be made in person by bringing the official State Seal of Biliteracy document(s) to:

Students who have received the State Seal of Biliteracy and would like to continue their language study at CSU should contact the Department of World Languages (Dr. Concetta Williams, Chair) for placement advice.

Chicago State University will not award credit for the State Commendation towards Biliteracy.