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Tennessee SIUE Louisville Northern Illinois IU UC Auburn Alabama WKU Purdue Ohio State Michigan State| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | University of Kentucky | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Southern Illinois University | Kentucky | ||
| Location | Carbondale, IL | Lexington, KY | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 11,359 | 32,703 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #491 | #421 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | siuc.edu | uky.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Southern Illinois University | Kentucky | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,638 | $11,849 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,638 | $32,043 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,114 | $15,242 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,131 | $19,838 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,408 | $13,024 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 96% |
Admission |
Southern Illinois University | Kentucky | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,401 | 28,233 | ||
| Admitted | 9,407 | 26,083 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 90.4% | 92.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.2% | 24.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.24 | 3.59 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/27 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 910/1140 | 1080/1290 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
Southern Illinois University | Kentucky | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 17:1 | ||
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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 | 13% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 15% | 17% | ||
| 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 | 83% | 58% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 40% | ||
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 (32,703 students vs. 11,359 students)
Southern Illinois University vs. Kentucky Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Southern Illinois University or Kentucky?
- University of Kentucky is 22.9% more expensive to attend than Southern Illinois University for in-state tuition ($11,849.00 vs. $9,638.00)
- Out of state tuition is 232.5% higher at Kentucky than Southern Illinois University Carbondale ($32,043.00 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 ($16,131 vs. $19,838)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are 25.8% lower than costs at University of Kentucky ($12,114 vs. $15,242)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Kentucky than Southern Illinois University Carbondale (96% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kentucky students is 5% larger than aid received Southern Illinois University Carbondale ($13,024 vs. $12,408)
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 (92.4%) than Southern Illinois University (90.4%)
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/