UIC vs. GVSU

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and Grand Valley 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
Grand Valley State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • GVSU Allendale, MI
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • GVSU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • GVSU 22,011
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • GVSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • GVSU #461
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • GVSU -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • GVSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • GVSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • GVSU $15,140
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • GVSU $21,548
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • GVSU $11,550
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • GVSU $17,198
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • GVSU $11,188
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • GVSU 90%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • GVSU 27,059
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • GVSU 22,464
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • GVSU 83%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • GVSU 18.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • GVSU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • GVSU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • GVSU 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • GVSU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • GVSU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • GVSU
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • GVSU 22/30
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • GVSU 940/1190
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • GVSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • GVSU May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • GVSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • GVSU
    • Business (23%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • GVSU 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • GVSU $44,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • GVSU 62%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • GVSU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • GVSU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • GVSU 38%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • GVSU 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • GVSU Low
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • GVSU No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • GVSU 83%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • GVSU 2%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • GVSU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • GVSU 5%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • GVSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • GVSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • GVSU 3%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • GVSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • GVSU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • GVSU 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • GVSU 8%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, IL with Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than GVSU based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 22,011 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Grand Valley State University is in Allendale, MI (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Grand Valley State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Grand Valley State University 15:1.

UIC vs. GVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or GVSU? 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 GVSU ($10,852 vs. $17,198).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 30% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($11,550 vs. $16,500).
  • Grand Valley State University is 5.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $802 more per year; $15,140.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 38.7% higher at UIC than at Grand Valley State University (about $8,336 more per year; $29,884.00 vs. $21,548.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grand Valley State University than at University of Illinois Chicago (90% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 49.8% larger than aid received by Grand Valley State University students ($16,755 vs. $11,188).

UIC vs. GVSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 170 points higher than at GVSU (1070).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at GVSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Grand Valley State University 940/1190.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Grand Valley State University 22/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; GVSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; GVSU May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than UIC (77.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 18.6% at GVSU.

UIC vs. GVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and GVSU? 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).

  • Grand Valley State University'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 $17,300 more per year than GVSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $44,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $6,250 lower median loan debt than GVSU graduates ($18,750 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $65 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than GVSU graduates ($193 vs. $258).
  • More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GVSU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 62%)

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.