UIC vs. WSU

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and Wichita State 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
Wichita State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • WSU Wichita, KS
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • WSU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • WSU 16,689
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • WSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • WSU #746
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • WSU -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • WSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • WSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • WSU $9,684
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • WSU $19,869
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • WSU $12,420
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • WSU $14,228
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • WSU $8,125
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • WSU 89%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • WSU 9,916
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • WSU 9,316
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • WSU 93.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • WSU 20.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • WSU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • WSU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • WSU 3.48
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • WSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • WSU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • WSU
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • WSU 17/25
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • WSU 905/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • WSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • WSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • WSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • WSU
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • WSU 43%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • WSU $43,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • WSU 55%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • WSU $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • WSU $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • WSU 42%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • WSU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • WSU Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • WSU No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • WSU 63%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • WSU 7%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • WSU 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • WSU 11%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • WSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • WSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • WSU 4%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • WSU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • WSU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • WSU 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • WSU 22%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than WSU based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 16,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Wichita State University is in Wichita, KS (Large City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wichita State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Wichita State University 19:1.

UIC vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or WSU? 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 WSU ($10,852 vs. $14,228).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wichita State University are 24.7% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($12,420 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 48.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSU (about $4,654 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $9,684.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 50.4% higher at UIC than at Wichita State University (about $10,015 more per year; $29,884.00 vs. $19,869.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wichita State University than at University of Illinois Chicago (89% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 106.2% larger than aid received by Wichita State University students ($16,755 vs. $8,125).

UIC vs. WSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 170 points higher than at WSU (1070).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 21 at WSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Wichita State University 905/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Wichita State University 17/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; WSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WSU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • WSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than UIC (77.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 20.1% at WSU.

UIC vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and WSU? 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 Illinois Chicago's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Wichita State University's (43%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $18,100 more per year than WSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $43,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than WSU graduates ($18,750 vs. $20,500).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WSU graduates ($193 vs. $211).
  • More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 55%)

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.