Chicago State University: Campus Visits and Getting There

Chicago State University is located at 9501 S. King Drive on Chicago’s South Side. The campus is about 4.3 miles from a hotel in Calumet Park.

The university is marked on the Chicago Transit Authority system map at grid location K-7. Its campus map also labels the CSU Metra Station and a CTA Depot, giving you useful transit landmarks when planning your approach.

For a broader sense of the surrounding area, the Calumet Park local-area guide covers the nearby community.

The Chicago State University campus map identifies buildings, parking lots, campus roads, walkways and entrances, so you can use it to orient yourself before setting out between stops.

Named locations include Douglas Hall, the Cordell Reed Student Union Building, Gwendolyn Brooks Library, the Emil and Patricia A. Jones Convocation Center and the Cook Administration Building. Outdoor features include tennis courts, a running track, Cougar Stadium and the Quad. The map also identifies the Chicago Teachers College Boxcar.

The university’s online campus tour includes several of these landmarks, along with Residence Hall, the City of Chicago and the CSU Box Car. The campus map states that the university is smoke-free.

Chicago State University offers individual campus tours that pair a conversation with an admissions counselor with a walking tour of the main campus.

Individual tours take place Tuesday through Thursday, with start times at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Each is for one prospective student and up to two guests. The university asks visitors to schedule through the booking link on its visits page; walk-in availability is limited.

High-school group visits take place Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., last approximately 2 hours and accommodate 15 to 35 participants. Groups with fewer than 15 participants should contact the group visit coordinator at admissions@csu.edu. High-school groups need at least one adult chaperone for every 10 students.

An online virtual tour provides an alternative if you cannot visit in person. Tour schedules and visitor arrangements can change, so check the official site before you go.

The campus’s CSU Metra Station and CTA Depot are labeled on the university map, and Chicago State University appears on the CTA system map. You can use those transit references to plan a route from Calumet Park; the guide to rail travel around Calumet Park explains the local rail context.

If you are driving, the university says guests must pay its daily parking fee. Vehicles parked on campus must display a parking decal or pay at the 95th Street or 99th Street parking booth. The parking page directs visitors seeking a permit to the Cashiers Office in Cook Building 212.

Park only in marked stalls and keep the entire vehicle within the space’s boundary lines. Visitors with a valid disability placard or disability license plate may use spaces reserved for people with disabilities, but not the adjacent access aisle. Free pick-ups and drop-offs are not permitted on campus.

Before your visit, use the campus map to identify the buildings and outdoor areas you plan to see, then arrange a tour if you want an admissions conversation and a guided walk. If you are arriving by car, plan for the university’s visitor parking requirements rather than assuming a free drop-off is allowed.

For tours, parking arrangements and other visitor details, consult the university’s official pages before setting out.

Where is Chicago State University?

Its campus is at 9501 S. King Drive, Chicago, Illinois.

How long is an individual campus tour?

The university offers individual tours of approximately 1 hour. They include an admissions counselor conversation and a walking tour of the main campus.

Can you visit Chicago State University without going in person?

Yes. The university provides an online virtual tour.

Can visitors park on campus?

Yes, but guests must pay the daily parking fee or have a parking decal displayed. Free pick-ups and drop-offs are not permitted on campus.