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University of Illinois Chicago

Public Graduate Strong 83/100

University of Illinois Chicago

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Chicago, Illinois

About University of Illinois Chicago

University of Illinois Chicago is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Chicago, Illinois. It enrolls 22,170 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: uic.edu

Acceptance: 77.4%
Graduation: 67.2%
Net Price: $10,974
Median Earnings (10yr): $68,740
Enrollment: 22,170
Student : Faculty: 17:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

83/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 60

Value 95

Affordability 86

Selectivity 60

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 77.4%, University of Illinois Chicago is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

77.4%

Easy

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1130 – 1350

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

25 – 31

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of Illinois Chicago is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 5.8 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending University of Illinois Chicago isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $10,974 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$10,974

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

49%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

22%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $14,338
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $29,884
Room & Board (on-campus): $16,500
Room & Board (off-campus): $14,400
Books & Supplies: $1,400
Other Expenses (on-campus): $6,026
Other Expenses (off-campus): $6,026
Total Cost of Attendance: $27,521

Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$7,529
$30,001 – $48,000

$8,119
$48,001 – $75,000

$10,921
$75,001 – $110,000

$16,185
Over $110,000

$25,047

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,500

10% percentile

$6,463

25% percentile

$16,704

Median percentile

$24,000

75% percentile

$31,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $13,129 ↓ $3,575

No Pell $14,000 ↓ $2,704

Dependent students $13,000 ↓ $3,704

Independent students $18,132 ↑ $1,428

Female students $13,000 ↓ $3,704

Male students $14,000 ↓ $2,704

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($16,704), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

67% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Illinois Chicago graduate within six years, and 79% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

67%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

79%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of $68,740 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$68,740

Earning > $25K

86%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$55,600

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$68,400

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$62,400

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$60,100

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$61,300

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $12,800, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 10.8 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 83% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

University of Illinois Chicago is home to 22,170 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 44% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

22,170

Part-Time

First-Generation

44%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 36.2% 8,014

White 22.5% 4,977

Asian 21.1% 4,676

Black 8.2% 1,814

International 7.5% 1,654

Other 3.1% 689

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Illinois Chicago. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large City Chicago, Illinois

Housing

Partly residential 3,489 beds available

Adult Learners

9% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

University of Illinois Chicago offers an extensive catalog of programs: 194 distinct programs across 25 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

31 Programs

Health

Medicine $67K typical
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Public Health $59K ($42K–$79K)

12 Programs

Business

Finance $83K ($61K–$112K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Management Sciences $86K ($62K–$115K)

25 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Civil Engineering $87K ($74K–$101K)
Electrical Engineering $101K ($85K–$122K)

8 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Systems Analysis $79K ($57K–$110K)

16 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Neurobiology $62K ($41K–$89K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)

7 Programs

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Public Policy $74K ($53K–$104K)
Public Administration $65K ($47K–$87K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Illinois Chicago is 17:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

17:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$38,236

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$525M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$128,703

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

2,404 instructional faculty across 6 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	633	26%	$177,681
Associate Professors	622	26%	$135,637
Assistant Professors	785	33%	$111,246
Instructors	156	6%	$100,308
Lecturers	206	9%	$75,209
No Rank	2	0%	$46,988

Pros & Cons of University of Illinois Chicago

A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Illinois Chicago tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Above-average graduation rate
Above-average post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body

CONS

Class sizes are on the higher side

Best for: Based on the data, University of Illinois Chicago is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions about University of Illinois Chicago

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Illinois Chicago.

Is University of Illinois Chicago hard to get into?

University of Illinois Chicago has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77.4%.

What is the acceptance rate at University of Illinois Chicago?

University of Illinois Chicago has an acceptance rate of 77.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for University of Illinois Chicago?

The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Illinois Chicago scored between 1130 and 1350 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for University of Illinois Chicago?

The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Illinois Chicago scored between 25 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does University of Illinois Chicago cost?

The average net price after aid at University of Illinois Chicago is $10,974 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is University of Illinois Chicago worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $68,740 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,974 per year. That's roughly 6.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is University of Illinois Chicago known for?

University of Illinois Chicago is best known for its programs in Biology, Psychology, Computer Science. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do University of Illinois Chicago graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Illinois Chicago are $68,740, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is University of Illinois Chicago accredited?

Yes. University of Illinois Chicago is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend University of Illinois Chicago?

University of Illinois Chicago enrolls 22,170 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at University of Illinois Chicago?

University of Illinois Chicago graduates 67% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is University of Illinois Chicago a public or private college?

University of Illinois Chicago is a Public institution.

Where is University of Illinois Chicago located?

University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois.

What programs does University of Illinois Chicago offer?

University of Illinois Chicago offers 194 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Psychology, Computer Science.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Illinois Chicago?

The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Illinois Chicago is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.