Chilstrom graduated in 1954 from Augsburg College, Minneapolis, with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology. He went on to receive a bachelor of divinity from Augustana Theological Seminary (later merged with other seminaries to form the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago) in 1958.
Chilstrom's academic background includes a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Augsburg College, Minneapolis, which he earned in 1954. He later pursued a theological education at Augustana Theological Seminary (which eventually became part of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago), completing his bachelor of divinity degree in 1958.