UCF vs. UIC

Deciding between University of Central Florida 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.

University of Central Florida
University of Illinois Chicago

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCF Orlando, FL
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Setting
  • UCF Large Suburban
  • UIC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCF 69,713
  • UIC 33,906
  • Type
  • UCF Public 4 Year
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCF #412
  • UIC #215
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCF -
  • UIC -
  • Status
  • UCF Non-profit
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCF
  • UIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCF $6,368
  • UIC $14,338
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCF $22,467
  • UIC $29,884
  • Room & Board
  • UCF $12,452
  • UIC $16,500
  • Average Net Price
  • UCF $13,351
  • UIC $10,852
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCF $9,704
  • UIC $16,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCF 86%
  • UIC 74%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCF 61,456
  • UIC 27,085
  • Admitted
  • UCF 24,653
  • UIC 20,951
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCF 40.1%
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UCF 33.5%
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCF 1280
  • UIC 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCF 27
  • UIC 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCF 3.64
  • UIC 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCF A-
  • UIC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCF Difficult
  • UIC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCF Low
  • UIC
  • ACT Range
  • UCF 25/29
  • UIC 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • UCF 1200/1350
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCF Required
  • UIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCF May 1, 2027
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCF 28:1
  • UIC 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCF
    • Business (25%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (5%)
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCF 63%
  • UIC 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCF $48,900
  • UIC $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCF 59%
  • UIC 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCF $18,270
  • UIC $18,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCF $188
  • UIC $193

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCF 46%
  • UIC 44%
  • % Women
  • UCF 54%
  • UIC 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCF High
  • UIC Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCF No
  • UIC No
  • % White
  • UCF 53%
  • UIC 34%
  • % Asian
  • UCF 6%
  • UIC 22%
  • % Black
  • UCF 11%
  • UIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCF 24%
  • UIC 28%
  • % Native American
  • UCF 0%
  • UIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCF 0%
  • UIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCF 4%
  • UIC 3%
  • % International
  • UCF 1%
  • UIC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCF 1%
  • UIC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCF 93%
  • UIC 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCF 6%
  • UIC 4%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Central Florida is larger than UIC based on total student enrollment (69,713 students vs. 33,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Central Florida is located in Orlando, FL (Large Suburban setting); University of Illinois Chicago is in Chicago, IL (Large City setting).
  • University of Central Florida is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Central Florida 28:1; University of Illinois Chicago 17:1.

UCF vs. UIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCF 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 University of Illinois Chicago than UCF ($10,852 vs. $13,351).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Florida are 24.5% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($12,452 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 125.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCF (about $7,970 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $6,368.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33% higher at UIC than at University of Central Florida (about $7,417 more per year; $29,884.00 vs. $22,467.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Central Florida than at University of Illinois Chicago (86% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 72.7% larger than aid received by University of Central Florida students ($16,755 vs. $9,704).

UCF vs. UIC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCF 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 UCF.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Central Florida (1280) is 40 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at UCF).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Central Florida 1200/1350; University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Central Florida 25/29; University of Illinois Chicago 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCF - Required; UIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCF May 1, 2027; UIC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCF students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than UCF (40.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.5% at UCF vs. 21.1% at UIC.

UCF vs. UIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCF 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 Central Florida's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $13,000 more per year than UCF graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Central Florida graduates have a $480 lower median loan debt than UIC graduates ($18,270 vs. $18,750).
  • Among borrowers, UCF graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UIC graduates ($188 vs. $193).
  • More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCF students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 59%)

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.