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Loyola Northern Illinois Illinois IIT ISU UC UB Michigan State DePaul UChicago EIU University of Illinois at Springfield| University of Illinois at Chicago | Illinois State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UIC | ISU | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Normal, IL | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 33,522 | 20,989 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #198 | #501 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uic.edu | illinoisstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UIC | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,178 | $12,066 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,200 | $24,131 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,600 | $11,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,499 | $20,871 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,421 | $11,590 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 72% | 96% |
Admission |
UIC | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,420 | 20,884 | ||
| Admitted | 19,955 | 18,589 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 78.5% | 89% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.3% | 22.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.41 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 25/32 | 22/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1120/1340 | 1010/1230 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2026 | Apr 1, 2026 |
Academics |
UIC | ISU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UIC | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 54% | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $61,900 | $49,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 68% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,750 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $227 |
Diversity |
UIC | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 14% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 20% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 34% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 28% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
UIC | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 89% | 96% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 4% | 3% | ||
Campus |
UIC | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Illinois at Chicago is larger than than ISU based on total student enrollment (33,522 students vs. 20,989 students)
UIC vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UIC or ISU?
- Illinois State University is 7.9% more expensive to attend than UIC for in-state tuition ($12,066.00 vs. $11,178.00)
- Out of state tuition is 8.6% higher at UIC than Illinois State University ($26,200.00 vs. $24,131.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Illinois at Chicago than ISU ($11,499 vs. $20,871)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 26% lower than costs at University of Illinois at Chicago ($11,584 vs. $14,600)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than University of Illinois at Chicago (96% vs. 72%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois at Chicago students is 33.1% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($15,421 vs. $11,590)
UIC vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UIC or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or UIC .
- The average SAT score at University of Illinois at Chicago (1092) is 2 points higher than at ISU (1090)
- Incoming UIC students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at ISU (24)
- Accepted freshman UIC students have at the same average high school GPA (3.41) as students at ISU (3.41)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than UIC (78.5%)
UIC vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UIC or ISU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ISU and UIC.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than University of Illinois at Chicago (71% vs. 54%)
- Graduates from University of Illinois at Chicago earn on average $12,900 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $49,000)
- University of Illinois at Chicago students graduate with a $3,250 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($18,750 vs. $22,000)
- UIC graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($193 vs. $227)
- More ISU 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/