Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Loyola Miami IIT Northern Illinois ISU Illinois IU Kentucky ISU Ohio State Xavier UB| University of Illinois at Chicago | University of Cincinnati Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UIC | UC | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Cincinnati, OH | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 33,522 | 43,338 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #198 | #431 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uic.edu | uc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UIC | UC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,178 | $11,892 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,200 | $28,904 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,600 | $13,048 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,499 | $21,511 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,421 | $8,195 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 72% | 68% |
Admission |
UIC | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,420 | 33,165 | ||
| Admitted | 19,955 | 29,077 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 78.5% | 87.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.3% | 23.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.69 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 25/32 | 24/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1120/1340 | 1150/1360 | ||
| 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 | Mar 1, 2026 |
Academics |
UIC | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 19:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
UIC | UC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 54% | 59% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $61,900 | $45,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 68% | 57% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,750 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $237 |
Diversity |
UIC | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 14% | 11% | ||
| % Women | 20% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 34% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 28% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 4% |
Students |
UIC | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 89% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 4% | 20% | ||
Campus |
UIC | UC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Cincinnati Main Campus is larger than than UIC based on total student enrollment (43,338 students vs. 33,522 students)
UIC vs. UC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UIC or UC?
- University of Cincinnati Main Campus is 6.4% more expensive to attend than UIC for in-state tuition ($11,892.00 vs. $11,178.00)
- Out of state tuition is 10.3% higher at UC than University of Illinois at Chicago ($28,904.00 vs. $26,200.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Illinois at Chicago than UC ($11,499 vs. $21,511)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus are 11.9% lower than costs at University of Illinois at Chicago ($13,048 vs. $14,600)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Illinois at Chicago than University of Cincinnati Main Campus (72% vs. 68%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois at Chicago students is 88.2% larger than aid received University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($15,421 vs. $8,195)
UIC vs. UC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UIC or UC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC or UIC .
- The average SAT score at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (1165) is 73 points higher than at UIC (1092)
- Incoming UC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at UIC (24)
- Accepted freshman UC students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at UIC (3.41)
- UC has a higher acceptance rate (87.7%) than UIC (78.5%)
UIC vs. UC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UIC or UC? 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 UC and UIC.
- The graduation rate at UC is higher than University of Illinois at Chicago (59% vs. 54%)
- Graduates from University of Illinois at Chicago earn on average $16,300 more per year than UC graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $45,600)
- University of Illinois at Chicago students graduate with a $4,250 lower median federal student loan debt than UC graduates. ($18,750 vs. $23,000)
- UIC graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than UC graduates. ($193 vs. $237)
- More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 57%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/