CSU vs. UIC

Should I go to Chicago State University or University of Illinois at Chicago? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CSU or UIC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Loyola IIT Northern Illinois ISU Illinois ISU UC UB Michigan State UChicago University of Illinois at Springfield IU
Chicago State University vs. University of Illinois at Chicago comparison
Chicago State University University of Illinois at Chicago College 3 College 4
Chicago State University University of Illinois at Chicago
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

CSU UIC
Location Chicago, IL Chicago, IL
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 2,317 33,747
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #870 #234
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csu.edu uic.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CSU UIC
Tuition (In State) $7,656 $10,970
Tuition (Out of State) $7,656 $25,578
Room & Board $13,800 $14,400
Avg Net Price $6,446 $10,384
Avg Grant Aid $15,891 $13,813
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 73%

Admission

CSU UIC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,404 23,562
Admitted 3,592 18,541
Acceptance Rate 48.5% 78.7%
Enrolled % 4.8% 22.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.18 3.41
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/19 24/30
SAT Range 750/963 1110/1340
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2024

Academics

CSU UIC
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (31%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Engineering (9%)

Outcomes

CSU UIC
Graduation Rate 21% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,300 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 25% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,250 $18,750
Median Loan Payment $323 $193

Diversity

CSU UIC
% Men 33% 44%
% Women 67% 56%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 3% 34%
% Black 75% 8%
% Hispanic 8% 28%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 12% 2%

Students

CSU UIC
% In-State 77% 88%
% Out-of-State 20% 5%

Campus

CSU UIC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Illinois at Chicago is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (33,747 students vs. 2,317 students)

CSU vs. UIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or UIC?

  • University of Illinois at Chicago is 43.3% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($10,970.00 vs. $7,656.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 234.1% higher at UIC than Chicago State University ($25,578.00 vs. $7,656.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Chicago State University than UIC ($6,446 vs. $10,384)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chicago State University are 4.3% lower than costs at University of Illinois at Chicago ($13,800 vs. $14,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Chicago State University than University of Illinois at Chicago (93% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chicago State University students is 15% larger than aid received University of Illinois at Chicago ($15,891 vs. $13,813)

CSU vs. UIC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or UIC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UIC or CSU .

  • The average SAT score at University of Illinois at Chicago (1092) is 217 points higher than at CSU (875)
  • Incoming UIC students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at CSU (18)
  • Accepted freshman UIC students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at CSU (3.18)
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (78.7%) than CSU (48.5%)

CSU vs. UIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CSU or UIC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UIC and CSU.

  • The graduation rate at UIC is higher than Chicago State University (54% vs. 21%)
  • Graduates from University of Illinois at Chicago earn on average $23,600 more per year than CSU graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $38,300)
  • University of Illinois at Chicago students graduate with a $12,500 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($18,750 vs. $31,250)
  • UIC graduates are paying $130 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($193 vs. $323)
  • More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/