UIC vs. SIUE

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville? 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
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • SIUE Edwardsville, IL
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • SIUE Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • SIUE 11,893
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • SIUE Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • SIUE #516
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • SIUE -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • SIUE Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • SIUE

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • SIUE $12,922
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • SIUE $12,922
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • SIUE $14,490
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • SIUE $17,115
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • SIUE $11,602
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • SIUE 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • SIUE 10,150
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • SIUE 9,896
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • SIUE 97.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • SIUE 15.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • SIUE 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • SIUE 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • SIUE 3.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • SIUE A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • SIUE Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • SIUE
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • SIUE 20/27
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • SIUE 950/1190
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • SIUE Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • SIUE May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • SIUE 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • SIUE
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • SIUE 52%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • SIUE $47,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • SIUE 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • SIUE $21,430
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • SIUE $221

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • SIUE 42%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • SIUE 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • SIUE Low
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • SIUE No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • SIUE 73%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • SIUE 2%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • SIUE 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • SIUE 4%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • SIUE 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • SIUE 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • SIUE 3%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • SIUE 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • SIUE 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • SIUE 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • SIUE 16%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than SIUE based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 11,893 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UIC vs. SIUE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or SIUE? 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 SIUE ($10,852 vs. $17,115).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are 12.2% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($14,490 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 11% more expensive for in-state tuition than SIUE (about $1,416 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $12,922.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 131.3% higher at UIC than at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (about $16,962 more per year; $29,884.00 vs. $12,922.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville than at University of Illinois Chicago (91% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 44.4% larger than aid received by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students ($16,755 vs. $11,602).

UIC vs. SIUE Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 170 points higher than at SIUE (1070).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 23 at SIUE).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 950/1190.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 20/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; SIUE - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; SIUE May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SIUE students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • SIUE has a higher acceptance rate (97.5%) than UIC (77.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 15.7% at SIUE.

UIC vs. SIUE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and SIUE? 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).

  • University of Illinois Chicago's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's (52%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $14,900 more per year than SIUE graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $47,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $2,680 lower median loan debt than SIUE graduates ($18,750 vs. $21,430).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SIUE graduates ($193 vs. $221).
  • More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SIUE students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 61%)

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.