UIC vs. Denison

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and Denison 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
Denison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Denison 2,394
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Denison #95
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Denison -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Denison

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Denison $67,000
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Denison $16,400
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Denison $43,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Denison $38,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Denison 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Denison 15,012
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Denison 2,611
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Denison 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Denison 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Denison 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Denison A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Denison Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Denison 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Denison Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Denison 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Denison 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Denison $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Denison 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Denison $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Denison $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Denison 48%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Denison 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Denison Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Denison No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Denison 66%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Denison 4%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Denison 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Denison 10%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Denison 4%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Denison 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Denison 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Denison 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Denison 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, IL with Denison University in Granville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Denison University 9:1.

UIC vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or Denison? 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 Denison ($10,852 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Denison University are 0.6% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($16,400 vs. $16,500).
  • Denison University is 367.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $52,662 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 124.2% higher at Denison than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $37,116 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Denison University than at University of Illinois Chicago (94% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 127.9% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($38,179 vs. $16,755).

UIC vs. Denison Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 170 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming Denison students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at UIC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Denison University 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Denison University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Denison students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 23.8% at Denison.

UIC vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and Denison? 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).

  • Denison University's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Denison graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $7,250 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($18,750 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($193 vs. $268).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.