Chicago State University
Cost of Attendance Breakdown
| Annual Cost of Attendance | $50,180 |
| Tuition & Fees | $24,588 |
| Living Expenses | $25,592 |
| Federal Loan Cap (Professional) | −$50,000 |
| Annual Funding Gap | $180 |
Cover Your $180 Gap
Chicago State University Pharmacy students typically need $180 in private loans per year to bridge the gap between federal aid and cost of attendance. Pre-qualify with a soft credit check — no impact to your score.
Based on our analysis of 7,333 programs at 1,861 universities · thefundinggap.org
What This Means for You
Small gap — likely manageable
Your $180/year gap is below $5,000, which many students can cover through part-time work, savings, or a small private loan.
- A graduate assistantship or part-time work may cover the full gap
- Apply for department scholarships and external fellowships
- If borrowing privately, a small loan at competitive rates can bridge the difference
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the federal loan limit for Chicago State University Pharmacy students?
Under the OBBBA (effective July 1, 2026), Chicago State University Pharmacy students can borrow up to $50,000 per year in federal Direct Loans. This is the professional annual cap. The aggregate lifetime limit is $200,000 for professional students.
Can I still get a Grad PLUS loan for Chicago State University?
No. Starting July 1, 2026, the Grad PLUS loan program is eliminated under the OBBBA. All graduate and professional students are subject to fixed annual borrowing caps ($50,000/year for professional programs). Students who need additional funding beyond the cap must use private loans, institutional aid, scholarships, or personal funds.
How much does Chicago State University Pharmacy cost per year?
The total cost of attendance for Chicago State University Pharmacy is $50,180 per year. Over the full 4-year program, the total cost is $200,720.
What is the funding gap for Chicago State University Pharmacy?
The annual funding gap is $180, calculated as the difference between the total cost of attendance ($50,180) and the federal loan cap ($50,000). Over the full 4-year program, the total gap is $720. This is below the national median of $18,980 for Pharmacy (PharmD) programs.
Is Chicago State University Pharmacy classified as graduate or professional?
Chicago State University Pharmacy (PharmD) is classified as professional under 34 CFR § 668.2, the federal definition of professional programs frozen as of the OBBBA enactment date. This means the annual federal loan cap is $50,000/year, with an aggregate limit of $200,000.
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Read more →Sources & Methodology
Data Sources
- Cost of attendance: Sourced from Chicago State University’s official tuition and fees page for the 2025–2026 academic year.
- Federal loan caps: Defined by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Public Law 119-21, Title VIII, Section 81001, amending 20 U.S.C. § 1087e(a), paragraph 4(A)(ii).
- IPEDS data: Institutional characteristics from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (NCES), Unit ID: 144005.
- Program classification: PharmD is classified as professional per 34 CFR § 668.2, with an annual federal loan cap of $50,000.
Methodology
- Funding gap = Cost of Attendance − Federal Loan Cap. Negative values are reported as $0.
- Cost of attendance includes tuition, mandatory fees, and estimated living expenses (housing, food, books, transportation, personal).
- Rankings compare programs within the same degree type nationally, sorted by annual funding gap from lowest to highest.
- Default COA assumes full-time enrollment, out-of-state residency (where applicable), no scholarships or grants, and no prior federal debt.
Data last updated: January 2026. Effective date for OBBBA loan caps: July 1, 2026.
A student at Chicago State University Pharmacy faces an annual funding gap of $180 based on a cost of attendance of $50,180 minus the federal professional loan cap of $50,000. Over 4 years, the total funding gap is $720. Based on data from “The 2026 Graduate Education Funding Crisis — A Data Report” available on thefundinggap.org.