UIC vs. ASU

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and Appalachian State University? 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 Illinois Chicago
Appalachian State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • ASU Boone, NC
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • ASU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • ASU 21,570
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • ASU #599
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • ASU -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • ASU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • ASU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • ASU $7,579
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • ASU $25,212
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • ASU $12,868
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • ASU $14,978
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • ASU $8,014
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • ASU 46%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • ASU 24,614
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • ASU 22,188
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • ASU 90.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • ASU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • ASU 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • ASU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • ASU 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • ASU A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • ASU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • ASU
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • ASU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • ASU 1120/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • ASU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • ASU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • ASU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • ASU 65%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • ASU $41,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • ASU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • ASU $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • ASU $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • ASU 43%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • ASU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • ASU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • ASU No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • ASU 85%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • ASU 2%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • ASU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • ASU 4%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • ASU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • ASU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • ASU 3%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • ASU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • ASU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • ASU 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • ASU 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, IL with Appalachian State University in Boone, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than ASU based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 21,570 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Appalachian State University is in Boone, NC (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Appalachian State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Appalachian State University 16:1.

UIC vs. ASU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or ASU? 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 ASU ($10,852 vs. $14,978).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 22% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($12,868 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 89.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than ASU (about $6,759 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $7,579.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18.5% higher at UIC than at Appalachian State University (about $4,672 more per year; $29,884.00 vs. $25,212.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Chicago than at Appalachian State University (74% vs. 46%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 109.1% larger than aid received by Appalachian State University students ($16,755 vs. $8,014).

UIC vs. ASU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC or ASU? 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 ASU and UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 40 points higher than at ASU (1200).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Appalachian State University 1120/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Appalachian State University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; ASU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; ASU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (90.1%) than UIC (77.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 18.2% at ASU.

UIC vs. ASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and ASU? 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).

  • Appalachian State University's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $20,300 more per year than ASU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than ASU graduates ($18,750 vs. $20,500).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ASU graduates ($193 vs. $211).
  • More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.