UIC vs. Iowa

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and University of Iowa? 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
University of Iowa

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Iowa Iowa City, IA
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Iowa Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Iowa 30,779
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Iowa Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Iowa #233
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Iowa -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Iowa Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Iowa

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Iowa $11,283
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Iowa $33,371
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Iowa $12,920
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Iowa $21,765
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Iowa $9,865
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Iowa 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Iowa 27,770
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Iowa 23,222
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Iowa 83.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Iowa 22.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Iowa 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Iowa 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Iowa 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Iowa A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Iowa Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Iowa
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Iowa 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Iowa 1130/1330
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Iowa Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Iowa May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Iowa 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Iowa
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Iowa 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Iowa $59,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Iowa 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Iowa $21,616
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Iowa $223

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Iowa 44%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Iowa 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Iowa Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Iowa No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Iowa 67%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Iowa 4%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Iowa 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Iowa 7%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Iowa 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Iowa 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Iowa 3%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Iowa 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Iowa 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Iowa 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Iowa 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than Iowa based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 30,779 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); University of Iowa is in Iowa City, IA (Small City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Iowa is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; University of Iowa 16:1.

UIC vs. Iowa Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or Iowa? 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 Iowa ($10,852 vs. $21,765).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 21.7% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($12,920 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 27.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa (about $3,055 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $11,283.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.7% higher at Iowa than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $3,487 more per year; $33,371.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Iowa than at University of Illinois Chicago (76% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 69.8% larger than aid received by University of Iowa students ($16,755 vs. $9,865).

UIC vs. Iowa Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC or Iowa? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Iowa and UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 10 points higher than at Iowa (1230).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (28 vs. 24 at Iowa).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; University of Iowa 1130/1330.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; University of Iowa 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Iowa - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; Iowa May 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Iowa students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (83.6%) than UIC (77.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 22.4% at Iowa.

UIC vs. Iowa Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and Iowa? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • University of Iowa's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than Iowa graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $59,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $2,866 lower median loan debt than Iowa graduates ($18,750 vs. $21,616).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa graduates ($193 vs. $223).
  • More Iowa graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.