UIC vs. Kentucky

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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Kentucky Lexington, KY
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Kentucky Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Kentucky 34,709
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Kentucky Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Kentucky #437
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Kentucky -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Kentucky Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Kentucky

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Kentucky $13,502
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Kentucky $34,140
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Kentucky $16,016
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Kentucky $21,958
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Kentucky $12,898
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Kentucky 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Kentucky 31,517
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Kentucky 29,293
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Kentucky 92.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Kentucky 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Kentucky 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Kentucky 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Kentucky 3.59
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Kentucky A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Kentucky Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Kentucky
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Kentucky 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Kentucky 1070/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Kentucky Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Kentucky Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Kentucky 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Kentucky
    • Business (19%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Kentucky 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Kentucky $51,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Kentucky 62%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Kentucky $22,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Kentucky $235

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Kentucky 40%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Kentucky 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Kentucky Low
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Kentucky No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Kentucky 76%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Kentucky 2%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Kentucky 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Kentucky 4%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Kentucky 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Kentucky 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Kentucky 3%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Kentucky 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Kentucky 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Kentucky 58%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Kentucky 41%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Kentucky is larger than UIC based on total student enrollment (34,709 students vs. 33,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); University of Kentucky is in Lexington, KY (Large City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Kentucky is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; University of Kentucky 18:1.

UIC vs. Kentucky Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or Kentucky? 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 Kentucky ($10,852 vs. $21,958).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kentucky are 2.9% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($16,016 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kentucky (about $836 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $13,502.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.2% higher at Kentucky than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $4,256 more per year; $34,140.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Kentucky than at University of Illinois Chicago (95% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 29.9% larger than aid received by University of Kentucky students ($16,755 vs. $12,898).

UIC vs. Kentucky Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 60 points higher than at Kentucky (1180).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 24 at Kentucky).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; University of Kentucky 1070/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; University of Kentucky 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Kentucky - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; Kentucky Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kentucky students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (92.9%) than UIC (77.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 22.2% at Kentucky.

UIC vs. Kentucky Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and Kentucky? 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 Kentucky's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $10,900 more per year than Kentucky graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Kentucky graduates ($18,750 vs. $22,750).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kentucky graduates ($193 vs. $235).
  • More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kentucky students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 62%)

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.