UIC vs. Northwestern

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and Northwestern 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
Northwestern University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Northwestern Evanston, IL
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Northwestern Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Northwestern 23,856
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Northwestern Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Northwestern #15
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Northwestern -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Northwestern Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Northwestern

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Northwestern $68,322
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Northwestern $68,322
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Northwestern $21,126
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Northwestern $26,830
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Northwestern $64,429
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Northwestern 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Northwestern 49,474
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Northwestern 3,806
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Northwestern 7.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Northwestern 55.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Northwestern 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Northwestern 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Northwestern 3.92
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Northwestern A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Northwestern Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Northwestern Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Northwestern 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Northwestern 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Northwestern Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Northwestern Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Northwestern 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Northwestern
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Communication (14%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Northwestern 94%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Northwestern $89,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Northwestern 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Northwestern $19,378
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Northwestern $200

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Northwestern 45%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Northwestern 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Northwestern High
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Northwestern No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Northwestern 50%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Northwestern 17%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Northwestern 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Northwestern 12%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Northwestern 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Northwestern 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Northwestern 5%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Northwestern 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Northwestern 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Northwestern 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Northwestern 66%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than Northwestern based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 23,856 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Northwestern University is in Evanston, IL (Small City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwestern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Northwestern University 6:1.

UIC vs. Northwestern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or Northwestern? 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 Northwestern ($10,852 vs. $26,830).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Chicago are 21.9% lower than at Northwestern University ($16,500 vs. $21,126).
  • Northwestern University is 376.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $53,984 more per year; $68,322.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 128.6% higher at Northwestern than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $38,438 more per year; $68,322.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Chicago than at Northwestern University (74% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 284.5% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($64,429 vs. $16,755).

UIC vs. Northwestern Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northwestern University (1540) is 300 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming Northwestern students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 28 at UIC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Northwestern University 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Northwestern University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Northwestern - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; Northwestern Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Northwestern (7.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 55.3% at Northwestern.

UIC vs. Northwestern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and Northwestern? 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).

  • Northwestern University's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn a median of about $27,900 more per year than UIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $628 lower median loan debt than Northwestern graduates ($18,750 vs. $19,378).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern graduates ($193 vs. $200).
  • More Northwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.