CHICAGO (AP) — The state budget stalemate and last week’s more than 300 layoffs are only the latest problems for Chicago State University. The mostly black school has a long history of troubles.

But a closer look at the South Side campus shows that for many of its students, it remains a last or best shot at a degree.

Many students have transferred in after finding other schools too expensive or encountering other problems.

Associated professor Robert Bionaz says low graduation rates do not fully reflect the school’s performance. Many Chicago State students need more than six or even eight year to graduate.