UD vs. UIC

Deciding between University of Delaware 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 Delaware
University of Illinois Chicago

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UD Newark, DE
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Setting
  • UD Large Suburban
  • UIC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UD 24,412
  • UIC 33,906
  • Type
  • UD Public 4 Year
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UD #150
  • UIC #215
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UD -
  • UIC -
  • Status
  • UD Non-profit
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UD
  • UIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UD $16,810
  • UIC $14,338
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UD $41,400
  • UIC $29,884
  • Room & Board
  • UD $15,386
  • UIC $16,500
  • Average Net Price
  • UD $19,139
  • UIC $10,852
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UD $13,302
  • UIC $16,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UD 91%
  • UIC 74%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UD 39,995
  • UIC 27,085
  • Admitted
  • UD 28,238
  • UIC 20,951
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UD 70.6%
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UD 15.7%
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UD 1280
  • UIC 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • UD 30
  • UIC 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • UD 3.94
  • UIC 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UD A
  • UIC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UD Very High
  • UIC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UD Low
  • UIC
  • ACT Range
  • UD 28/32
  • UIC 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • UD 1190/1370
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UD Test optional
  • UIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UD Jan 15, 2027
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UD 16:1
  • UIC 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UD
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UD 78%
  • UIC 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UD $61,300
  • UIC $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UD 80%
  • UIC 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UD $24,203
  • UIC $18,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UD $250
  • UIC $193

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UD 41%
  • UIC 44%
  • % Women
  • UD 59%
  • UIC 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UD Low
  • UIC Very High
  • HBCU
  • UD No
  • UIC No
  • % White
  • UD 74%
  • UIC 34%
  • % Asian
  • UD 5%
  • UIC 22%
  • % Black
  • UD 6%
  • UIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • UD 8%
  • UIC 28%
  • % Native American
  • UD 0%
  • UIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UD 0%
  • UIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UD 3%
  • UIC 3%
  • % International
  • UD 4%
  • UIC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UD 1%
  • UIC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UD 39%
  • UIC 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UD 59%
  • UIC 4%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Delaware in Newark, DE 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 UD based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 24,412 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Delaware is located in Newark, DE (Large Suburban setting); University of Illinois Chicago is in Chicago, IL (Large City setting).
  • University of Delaware 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 Delaware 16:1; University of Illinois Chicago 17:1.

UD vs. UIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UD 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 UD ($10,852 vs. $19,139).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Delaware are 6.8% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($15,386 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Delaware is 17.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $2,472 more per year; $16,810.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 38.5% higher at UD than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $11,516 more per year; $41,400.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Delaware than at University of Illinois Chicago (91% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 26% larger than aid received by University of Delaware students ($16,755 vs. $13,302).

UD vs. UIC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UD or UIC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UIC and UD.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Delaware (1280) is 40 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming UD students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (30 vs. 28 at UIC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Delaware 1190/1370; University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Delaware 28/32; University of Illinois Chicago 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UD - Test optional; UIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UD Jan 15, 2027; UIC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman UD students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than UD (70.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at UD vs. 21.1% at UIC.

UD vs. UIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UD and UIC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • University of Delaware's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $600 more per year than UD graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $61,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $5,453 lower median loan debt than UD graduates ($18,750 vs. $24,203).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UD graduates ($193 vs. $250).
  • More UD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 68%)

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.