UIC vs. Valpo

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

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Valpo Valparaiso, IN
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Valpo Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Valpo 2,579
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Valpo Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Valpo #302
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Valpo Lutheran Church in America
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Valpo Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Valpo

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Valpo $48,450
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Valpo $48,450
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Valpo $13,618
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Valpo $21,766
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Valpo $37,548
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Valpo 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Valpo 6,199
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Valpo 5,544
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Valpo 89.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Valpo 9.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Valpo 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Valpo 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Valpo 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Valpo A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Valpo Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Valpo
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Valpo 23/31
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Valpo 1060/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Valpo Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Valpo

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Valpo 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Valpo
    • Business (13%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Education (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Valpo 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Valpo $54,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Valpo 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Valpo $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Valpo $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Valpo 42%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Valpo 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Valpo Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Valpo No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Valpo 72%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Valpo 2%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Valpo 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Valpo 8%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Valpo 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Valpo 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Valpo 3%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Valpo 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Valpo 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Valpo 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Valpo 42%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than Valpo based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 2,579 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Valparaiso University is in Valparaiso, IN (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Valparaiso University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Valparaiso University 10:1.

UIC vs. Valpo Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or Valpo? 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 Valpo ($10,852 vs. $21,766).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Valparaiso University are 17.5% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($13,618 vs. $16,500).
  • Valparaiso University is 237.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $34,112 more per year; $48,450.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 62.1% higher at Valpo than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $18,566 more per year; $48,450.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Valparaiso University than at University of Illinois Chicago (100% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Valparaiso University students is 124.1% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($37,548 vs. $16,755).

UIC vs. Valpo Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 70 points higher than at Valpo (1170).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at Valpo).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Valparaiso University 1060/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Valparaiso University 23/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Valpo - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Valpo students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • Valpo has a higher acceptance rate (89.4%) than UIC (77.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 9.6% at Valpo.

UIC vs. Valpo Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and Valpo? 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).

  • Valparaiso University'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 $7,900 more per year than Valpo graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $54,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $8,250 lower median loan debt than Valpo graduates ($18,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $86 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Valpo graduates ($193 vs. $279).
  • More Valpo graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.