UIC vs. ISU

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and Illinois 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
Illinois State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • ISU 21,546
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • ISU #502
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • ISU $16,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • ISU $28,210
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • ISU $11,754
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • ISU $21,369
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • ISU $12,974
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • ISU 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • ISU 21,573
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • ISU 19,017
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • ISU 88.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • ISU 22.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • ISU 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • ISU 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • ISU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • ISU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • ISU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • ISU 990/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • ISU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • ISU 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • ISU $49,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • ISU $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • ISU $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • ISU 42%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • ISU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • ISU 77%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • ISU 2%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • ISU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • ISU 9%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • ISU 3%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • ISU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • ISU 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • ISU 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than ISU based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 21,546 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UIC vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or ISU? 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 ISU ($10,852 vs. $21,369).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 28.8% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($11,754 vs. $16,500).
  • Illinois State University is 12.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $1,806 more per year; $16,144.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.9% higher at UIC than at Illinois State University (about $1,674 more per year; $29,884.00 vs. $28,210.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois State University than at University of Illinois Chicago (96% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 29.1% larger than aid received by Illinois State University students ($16,755 vs. $12,974).

UIC vs. ISU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 140 points higher than at ISU (1100).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Illinois State University 990/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Illinois State University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UIC students have the same average high school GPA (3.41) as students at ISU (3.41).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than UIC (77.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 22.5% at ISU.

UIC vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and ISU? 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).

  • Illinois State 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 $12,900 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($18,750 vs. $22,000).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($193 vs. $227).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.