UIC vs. University of St Francis

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and University of St Francis? 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 St Francis

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • University of St Francis Joliet, IL
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • University of St Francis Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • University of St Francis 3,074
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • University of St Francis Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • University of St Francis #355
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • University of St Francis Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • University of St Francis Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • University of St Francis

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • University of St Francis $38,110
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • University of St Francis $38,110
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • University of St Francis $11,980
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • University of St Francis $14,045
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • University of St Francis $31,998
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • University of St Francis 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • University of St Francis 2,250
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • University of St Francis 1,469
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • University of St Francis 65.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • University of St Francis 14.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • University of St Francis 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • University of St Francis 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • University of St Francis 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • University of St Francis B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • University of St Francis Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • University of St Francis Low
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • University of St Francis 20/32
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • University of St Francis 1030/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • University of St Francis Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • University of St Francis Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • University of St Francis 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • University of St Francis
    • Health Professions (41%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Psychology (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • University of St Francis 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • University of St Francis $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • University of St Francis 62%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • University of St Francis $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • University of St Francis $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • University of St Francis 27%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • University of St Francis 73%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • University of St Francis Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • University of St Francis No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • University of St Francis 67%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • University of St Francis 2%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • University of St Francis 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • University of St Francis 16%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • University of St Francis 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • University of St Francis 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • University of St Francis 3%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • University of St Francis 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • University of St Francis 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • University of St Francis 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • University of St Francis 9%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UIC Yes
  • University of St Francis Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UIC No
  • University of St Francis No
  • Meal Plan
  • UIC Yes
  • University of St Francis Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UIC No
  • University of St Francis Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • UIC Yes
  • University of St Francis No

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than University of St Francis based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 3,074 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UIC vs. University of St Francis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or University of St Francis? 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 University of St Francis ($10,852 vs. $14,045).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of St Francis are 27.4% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($11,980 vs. $16,500).
  • University of St Francis is 165.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $23,772 more per year; $38,110.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27.5% higher at University of St Francis than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $8,226 more per year; $38,110.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of St Francis than at University of Illinois Chicago (100% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of St Francis students is 91% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($31,998 vs. $16,755).

UIC vs. University of St Francis Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC or University of St Francis? 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 University of St Francis and UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 110 points higher than at University of St Francis (1130).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (28 vs. 26 at University of St Francis).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; University of St Francis 1030/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; University of St Francis 20/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; University of St Francis - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; University of St Francis Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman University of St Francis students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than University of St Francis (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 14.2% at University of St Francis.

UIC vs. University of St Francis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and University of St Francis? 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 St Francis's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $11,300 more per year than University of St Francis graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $6,250 lower median loan debt than University of St Francis graduates ($18,750 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $65 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of St Francis graduates ($193 vs. $258).
  • More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of St Francis 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.