UIC vs. Principia College

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and Principia College? 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Principia College Elsah, Illinois
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Principia College Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Principia College 339
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Principia College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Principia College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Principia College -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Principia College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Principia College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Principia College $34,680
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Principia College $34,680
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Principia College $13,910
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Principia College $18,248
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Principia College $30,402
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Principia College 90%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Principia College -
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Principia College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Principia College
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Principia College
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Principia College 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Principia College 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Principia College 3.34
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Principia College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Principia College Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Principia College
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Principia College 19/23
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Principia College 1040/1250
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Principia College Not reported
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Principia College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Principia College 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Principia College

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Principia College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Principia College N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Principia College -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Principia College N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Principia College N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Principia College 59%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Principia College 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Principia College -
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Principia College No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Principia College 0%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Principia College 0%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Principia College 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Principia College 0%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Principia College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Principia College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Principia College 0%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Principia College 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Principia College 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Principia College 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Principia College 70%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than Principia College based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 339 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UIC vs. Principia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or Principia College? 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 Principia College ($10,852 vs. $18,248).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Principia College are 15.7% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($13,910 vs. $16,500).
  • Principia College is 141.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $20,342 more per year; $34,680.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16% higher at Principia College than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $4,796 more per year; $34,680.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Principia College than at University of Illinois Chicago (90% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Principia College students is 81.5% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($30,402 vs. $16,755).

UIC vs. Principia College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 90 points higher than at Principia College (1150).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 21 at Principia College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Principia College 1040/1250.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Principia College 19/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Principia College - Not reported.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UIC students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Principia College (3.34).

UIC vs. Principia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and Principia College? 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).

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.