Southern Illinois University vs. Kentucky

Should I go to Southern Illinois University Carbondale or University of Kentucky? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Southern Illinois University or Kentucky is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Southern Illinois University Carbondale vs. University of Kentucky comparison
Southern Illinois University Carbondale University of Kentucky College 3 College 4
Southern Illinois University Carbondale University of Kentucky
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Overview

Southern Illinois University Kentucky
Location Carbondale, IL Lexington, KY
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 11,107 31,547
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #467 #408
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website siuc.edu uky.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southern Illinois University Kentucky
Tuition (In State) $9,638 $11,496
Tuition (Out of State) $9,638 $30,913
Room & Board $10,622 $14,676
Avg Net Price $16,990 $18,693
Avg Grant Aid $11,269 $14,114
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 94%

Admission

Southern Illinois University Kentucky
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,771 22,109
Admitted 8,940 20,979
Acceptance Rate 91.5% 94.9%
Enrolled % 17% 28.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.24 3.59
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/27 21/28
SAT Range 900/1140 1070/1290
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 15, 2025

Academics

Southern Illinois University Kentucky
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (20%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Southern Illinois University Kentucky
Graduation Rate 44% 59%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,800 $51,000
Making Student Loan Payments 51% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $22,750
Median Loan Payment $232 $235

Diversity

Southern Illinois University Kentucky
% Men 49% 40%
% Women 51% 60%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 76%
% Black 19% 8%
% Hispanic 8% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

Southern Illinois University Kentucky
% In-State 81% 61%
% Out-of-State 17% 37%

Campus

Southern Illinois University Kentucky
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kentucky is larger than than Southern Illinois University based on total student enrollment (31,547 students vs. 11,107 students)

Southern Illinois University vs. Kentucky Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southern Illinois University or Kentucky?

  • University of Kentucky is 19.3% more expensive to attend than Southern Illinois University for in-state tuition ($11,496.00 vs. $9,638.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 220.7% higher at Kentucky than Southern Illinois University Carbondale ($30,913.00 vs. $9,638.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Illinois University Carbondale than Kentucky ($16,990 vs. $18,693)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are 38.2% lower than costs at University of Kentucky ($10,622 vs. $14,676)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Illinois University Carbondale than University of Kentucky (98% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kentucky students is 25.2% larger than aid received Southern Illinois University Carbondale ($14,114 vs. $11,269)

Southern Illinois University vs. Kentucky Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southern Illinois University or Kentucky? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Kentucky or Southern Illinois University .

  • The average SAT score at University of Kentucky (1143) is 111 points higher than at Southern Illinois University (1032)
  • Incoming Kentucky students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Southern Illinois University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Kentucky students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Southern Illinois University (3.24)
  • Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) than Southern Illinois University (91.5%)

Southern Illinois University vs. Kentucky Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Southern Illinois University or Kentucky? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Kentucky and Southern Illinois University.

  • The graduation rate at Kentucky is higher than Southern Illinois University Carbondale (59% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from University of Kentucky earn on average $3,200 more per year than Southern Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $47,800)
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than Kentucky graduates. ($22,500 vs. $22,750)
  • Southern Illinois University graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Kentucky graduates. ($232 vs. $235)
  • More Kentucky graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/