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SIUE Northern Illinois ISU Southeast Missouri State University Illinois EIU WMU Western Illinois University WSC UIC University of Missouri-Columbia IU| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | University of Nebraska at Kearney | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Southern Illinois University | UNK | ||
| Location | Carbondale, IL | Kearney, NE | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 11,359 | 6,017 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #491 | #574 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | siuc.edu | unk.edu | ||
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Costs |
Southern Illinois University | UNK | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,638 | $6,450 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,638 | $12,418 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,114 | $11,936 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,131 | $16,249 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,408 | $8,779 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 86% |
Admission |
Southern Illinois University | UNK | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,401 | 7,253 | ||
| Admitted | 9,407 | 6,222 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 90.4% | 85.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.2% | 14.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.24 | 3.24 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/27 | 18/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 910/1140 | 970/1150 | ||
| 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 | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Southern Illinois University | UNK | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Southern Illinois University | UNK | ||
| Graduation Rate | 44% | 61% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,800 | $43,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 51% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,500 | $21,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $232 | $219 |
Diversity |
Southern Illinois University | UNK | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 13% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 15% | 22% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 64% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Southern Illinois University | UNK | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 9% | ||
Campus |
Southern Illinois University | UNK | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale is larger than than UNK based on total student enrollment (11,359 students vs. 6,017 students)
Southern Illinois University vs. UNK Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Southern Illinois University or UNK?
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale is 49.4% more expensive to attend than UNK for in-state tuition ($9,638.00 vs. $6,450.00)
- Out of state tuition is 28.8% higher at UNK than Southern Illinois University Carbondale ($12,418.00 vs. $9,638.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Illinois University Carbondale than UNK ($16,131 vs. $16,249)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nebraska at Kearney are 1.5% lower than costs at Southern Illinois University Carbondale ($11,936 vs. $12,114)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Illinois University Carbondale than University of Nebraska at Kearney (93% vs. 86%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Illinois University Carbondale students is 41.3% larger than aid received University of Nebraska at Kearney ($12,408 vs. $8,779)
Southern Illinois University vs. UNK Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Southern Illinois University or UNK? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNK or Southern Illinois University .
- The average SAT score at University of Nebraska at Kearney (1049) is 17 points higher than at Southern Illinois University (1032)
- Incoming UNK students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Southern Illinois University (22)
- Accepted freshman Southern Illinois University students have at the same average high school GPA (3.24) as students at UNK (3.24)
- Southern Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than UNK (85.8%)
Southern Illinois University vs. UNK Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Southern Illinois University or UNK? 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 UNK and Southern Illinois University.
- The graduation rate at UNK is higher than Southern Illinois University Carbondale (61% vs. 44%)
- Graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn on average $4,400 more per year than UNK graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $43,400)
- University of Nebraska at Kearney students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Southern Illinois University graduates. ($21,250 vs. $22,500)
- UNK graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Southern Illinois University graduates. ($219 vs. $232)
- More UNK graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 51%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/