CSU vs. UIC

Deciding between Chicago State University and University of Illinois Chicago? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Chicago State University
University of Illinois Chicago

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSU Chicago, IL
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Setting
  • CSU Large City
  • UIC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 2,238
  • UIC 33,906
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #814
  • UIC #215
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU -
  • UIC -
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • UIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $12,754
  • UIC $14,338
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $12,754
  • UIC $29,884
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $11,550
  • UIC $16,500
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $10,441
  • UIC $10,852
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $18,194
  • UIC $16,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 99%
  • UIC 74%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 10,638
  • UIC 27,085
  • Admitted
  • CSU 4,602
  • UIC 20,951
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 43.3%
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 3.8%
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 860
  • UIC 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 17
  • UIC 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.18
  • UIC 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • UIC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Extremely Easy
  • UIC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU Low
  • UIC
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 15/19
  • UIC 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 750/963
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Test-free
  • UIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 9:1
  • UIC 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (31%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Education (7%)
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 21%
  • UIC 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $38,300
  • UIC $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 25%
  • UIC 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $31,250
  • UIC $18,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $323
  • UIC $193

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 30%
  • UIC 44%
  • % Women
  • CSU 70%
  • UIC 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU Very Low
  • UIC Very High
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • UIC No
  • % White
  • CSU 3%
  • UIC 34%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 1%
  • UIC 22%
  • % Black
  • CSU 75%
  • UIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 8%
  • UIC 28%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 0%
  • UIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • UIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 0%
  • UIC 3%
  • % International
  • CSU 2%
  • UIC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 12%
  • UIC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 70%
  • UIC 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 28%
  • UIC 4%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CSU Yes
  • UIC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CSU No
  • UIC No
  • Meal Plan
  • CSU Yes
  • UIC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CSU Yes
  • UIC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • CSU Yes
  • UIC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Chicago State University in Chicago, IL with University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than CSU based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 2,238 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Chicago State University is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); University of Illinois Chicago is in Chicago, IL (Large City setting).
  • Chicago State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Chicago State University 9:1; University of Illinois Chicago 17:1.

CSU vs. UIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or UIC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Chicago State University than UIC ($10,441 vs. $10,852).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chicago State University are 30% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($11,550 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $1,584 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $12,754.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 134.3% higher at UIC than at Chicago State University (about $17,130 more per year; $29,884.00 vs. $12,754.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chicago State University than at University of Illinois Chicago (99% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chicago State University students is 8.6% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($18,194 vs. $16,755).

CSU vs. UIC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or UIC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UIC and CSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 380 points higher than at CSU (860).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 11 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 17 at CSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chicago State University 750/963; University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chicago State University 15/19; University of Illinois Chicago 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; UIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UIC students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at CSU (3.18).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than CSU (43.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 3.8% at CSU vs. 21.1% at UIC.

CSU vs. UIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and UIC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Illinois Chicago's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Chicago State University's (21%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $23,600 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $38,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $12,500 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($18,750 vs. $31,250).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $130 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($193 vs. $323).
  • More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.