UIC vs. LSU

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and Louisiana 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
Louisiana State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • LSU Baton Rouge, LA
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • LSU Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • LSU 41,705
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • LSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • LSU #350
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • LSU -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • LSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • LSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • LSU $11,954
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • LSU $28,631
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • LSU $15,142
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • LSU $21,430
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • LSU $14,094
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • LSU 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • LSU 47,065
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • LSU 34,513
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • LSU 73.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • LSU 23%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • LSU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • LSU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • LSU 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • LSU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • LSU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • LSU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • LSU 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • LSU 1180/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • LSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • LSU Jul 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • LSU 21:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • LSU
    • Business (18%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • LSU 60%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • LSU $56,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • LSU 67%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • LSU $20,900
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • LSU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • LSU 42%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • LSU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • LSU Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • LSU No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • LSU 73%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • LSU 4%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • LSU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • LSU 6%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • LSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • LSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • LSU 2%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • LSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • LSU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • LSU 60%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • LSU 39%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, IL with Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Louisiana State University is larger than UIC based on total student enrollment (41,705 students vs. 33,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Louisiana State University is in Baton Rouge, LA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Louisiana State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Louisiana State University 21:1.

UIC vs. LSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or LSU? 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 LSU ($10,852 vs. $21,430).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Louisiana State University are 8.2% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($15,142 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 19.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than LSU (about $2,384 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $11,954.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.4% higher at UIC than at Louisiana State University (about $1,253 more per year; $29,884.00 vs. $28,631.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Louisiana State University than at University of Illinois Chicago (88% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 18.9% larger than aid received by Louisiana State University students ($16,755 vs. $14,094).

UIC vs. LSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Louisiana State University (1260) is 20 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at LSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Louisiana State University 1180/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Louisiana State University 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; LSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; LSU Jul 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman LSU students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than LSU (73.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 23% at LSU.

UIC vs. LSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and LSU? 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).

  • Louisiana State University's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than LSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $2,150 lower median loan debt than LSU graduates ($18,750 vs. $20,900).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LSU graduates ($193 vs. $216).
  • More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LSU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 67%)

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.