UChicago vs. UIC

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

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UChicago Chicago, IL
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Setting
  • UChicago Large City
  • UIC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UChicago 18,566
  • UIC 33,906
  • Type
  • UChicago Private 4 Year
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UChicago #6
  • UIC #215
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UChicago -
  • UIC -
  • Status
  • UChicago Non-profit
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UChicago
  • UIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UChicago $70,662
  • UIC $14,338
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UChicago $70,662
  • UIC $29,884
  • Room & Board
  • UChicago $20,109
  • UIC $16,500
  • Average Net Price
  • UChicago $28,060
  • UIC $10,852
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UChicago $62,300
  • UIC $16,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UChicago 47%
  • UIC 74%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UChicago 43,612
  • UIC 27,085
  • Admitted
  • UChicago 1,955
  • UIC 20,951
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UChicago 4.5%
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UChicago 88.3%
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UChicago 1550
  • UIC 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • UChicago 34
  • UIC 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • UChicago 3.95
  • UIC 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UChicago A
  • UIC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UChicago Elite
  • UIC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UChicago Extreme
  • UIC
  • ACT Range
  • UChicago 34/35
  • UIC 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • UChicago 1510/1580
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UChicago Test optional
  • UIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UChicago
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UChicago 5:1
  • UIC 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UChicago
    • Social Sciences (38%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Mathematics (7%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UChicago 92%
  • UIC 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UChicago $98,500
  • UIC $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UChicago 86%
  • UIC 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UChicago $14,500
  • UIC $18,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UChicago $149
  • UIC $193

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UChicago 54%
  • UIC 44%
  • % Women
  • UChicago 46%
  • UIC 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UChicago High
  • UIC Very High
  • HBCU
  • UChicago No
  • UIC No
  • % White
  • UChicago 45%
  • UIC 34%
  • % Asian
  • UChicago 17%
  • UIC 22%
  • % Black
  • UChicago 5%
  • UIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • UChicago 8%
  • UIC 28%
  • % Native American
  • UChicago 0%
  • UIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UChicago 0%
  • UIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UChicago 3%
  • UIC 3%
  • % International
  • UChicago 11%
  • UIC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UChicago 10%
  • UIC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UChicago 8%
  • UIC 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UChicago 68%
  • UIC 4%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than UChicago based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 18,566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); University of Illinois Chicago is in Chicago, IL (Large City setting).
  • University of Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Chicago 5:1; University of Illinois Chicago 17:1.

UChicago vs. UIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UChicago or UIC? 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 UChicago ($10,852 vs. $28,060).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Chicago are 17.9% lower than at University of Chicago ($16,500 vs. $20,109).
  • University of Chicago is 392.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $56,324 more per year; $70,662.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 136.5% higher at UChicago than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $40,778 more per year; $70,662.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Chicago than at University of Chicago (74% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Chicago students is 271.8% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($62,300 vs. $16,755).

UChicago vs. UIC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Chicago (1550) is 310 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming UChicago students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 28 at UIC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Chicago 1510/1580; University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Chicago 34/35; University of Illinois Chicago 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UChicago - Test optional; UIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UChicago students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than UChicago (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 88.3% at UChicago vs. 21.1% at UIC.

UChicago vs. UIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UChicago and UIC? 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 Chicago's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Chicago earn a median of about $36,600 more per year than UIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,500 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Chicago graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than UIC graduates ($14,500 vs. $18,750).
  • Among borrowers, UChicago graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UIC graduates ($149 vs. $193).
  • More UChicago graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.