UIC vs. Grinnell

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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Grinnell Grinnell, IA
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Grinnell Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Grinnell 1,788
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Grinnell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Grinnell #57
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Grinnell -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Grinnell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Grinnell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Grinnell $16,842
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Grinnell $34,363
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Grinnell $49,077
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Grinnell 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Grinnell 9,758
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Grinnell 1,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Grinnell 14.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Grinnell 30.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Grinnell 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Grinnell 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Grinnell 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Grinnell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Grinnell Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Grinnell Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Grinnell 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Grinnell 1410/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Grinnell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Grinnell Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Grinnell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Grinnell
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • History (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Grinnell 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Grinnell $59,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Grinnell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Grinnell $13,170
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Grinnell $136

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Grinnell 46%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Grinnell 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Grinnell High
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Grinnell No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Grinnell 56%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Grinnell 7%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Grinnell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Grinnell 7%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Grinnell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Grinnell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Grinnell 5%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Grinnell 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Grinnell 3%

  • Students

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

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 1,788 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Grinnell College is in Grinnell, IA (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Grinnell College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Grinnell College 9:1.

UIC vs. Grinnell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or Grinnell? 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 Grinnell ($10,852 vs. $34,363).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Chicago are 2% lower than at Grinnell College ($16,500 vs. $16,842).
  • Grinnell College is 375% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $53,768 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 127.9% higher at Grinnell than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $38,222 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grinnell College than at University of Illinois Chicago (94% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 192.9% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($49,077 vs. $16,755).

UIC vs. Grinnell Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Grinnell College (1480) is 240 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming Grinnell students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at UIC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Grinnell College 1410/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Grinnell College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Grinnell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; Grinnell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Grinnell (14.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 30.9% at Grinnell.

UIC vs. Grinnell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and Grinnell? 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).

  • Grinnell College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Grinnell graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Grinnell College graduates have a $5,580 lower median loan debt than UIC graduates ($13,170 vs. $18,750).
  • Among borrowers, Grinnell graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UIC graduates ($136 vs. $193).
  • More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.