UIC vs. MSOE

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and Milwaukee School of Engineering? 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
Milwaukee School of Engineering

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • MSOE Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • MSOE Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • MSOE 2,953
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • MSOE Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • MSOE #230
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • MSOE -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • MSOE Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • MSOE

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • MSOE $13,984
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • MSOE $25,669
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • MSOE $36,997
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • MSOE 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • MSOE 6,287
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • MSOE 3,705
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • MSOE 58.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • MSOE 17.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • MSOE 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • MSOE 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • MSOE 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • MSOE A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • MSOE Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • MSOE Low
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • MSOE 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • MSOE 1160/1405
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • MSOE Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • MSOE Sep 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • MSOE 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • MSOE
    • Engineering (66%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Communication (1%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • MSOE 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • MSOE $68,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • MSOE 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • MSOE $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • MSOE $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • MSOE 70%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • MSOE 30%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • MSOE Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • MSOE No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • MSOE 66%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • MSOE 3%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • MSOE 5%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • MSOE 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • MSOE 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • MSOE 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • MSOE 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than MSOE based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Milwaukee School of Engineering is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Milwaukee School of Engineering 12:1.

UIC vs. MSOE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or MSOE? 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 MSOE ($10,852 vs. $25,669).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee School of Engineering are 15.2% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($13,984 vs. $16,500).
  • Milwaukee School of Engineering is 252.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $36,142 more per year; $50,480.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 68.9% higher at MSOE than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $20,596 more per year; $50,480.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Milwaukee School of Engineering than at University of Illinois Chicago (100% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee School of Engineering students is 120.8% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($36,997 vs. $16,755).

UIC vs. MSOE Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Milwaukee School of Engineering (1280) is 40 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at MSOE).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Milwaukee School of Engineering 1160/1405.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Milwaukee School of Engineering 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; MSOE - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; MSOE Sep 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman MSOE students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than MSOE (58.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 17.2% at MSOE.

UIC vs. MSOE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and MSOE? 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).

  • Milwaukee School of Engineering's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from Milwaukee School of Engineering earn a median of about $7,000 more per year than UIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,900 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $8,250 lower median loan debt than MSOE graduates ($18,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $86 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MSOE graduates ($193 vs. $279).
  • More MSOE graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.