UIC vs. San Diego State

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and San Diego 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
San Diego State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • San Diego State San Diego, CA
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • San Diego State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • San Diego State 41,137
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • San Diego State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • San Diego State #353
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • San Diego State -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • San Diego State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • San Diego State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • San Diego State $8,728
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • San Diego State $21,328
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • San Diego State $23,030
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • San Diego State $14,704
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • San Diego State $12,053
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • San Diego State 47%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • San Diego State 89,972
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • San Diego State 32,561
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • San Diego State 36.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • San Diego State 20.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • San Diego State 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • San Diego State 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • San Diego State 3.82
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • San Diego State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • San Diego State Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • San Diego State High
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • San Diego State 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • San Diego State 1090/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • San Diego State Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • San Diego State Nov 30, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • San Diego State 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • San Diego State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • San Diego State 66%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • San Diego State $53,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • San Diego State 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • San Diego State $15,349
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • San Diego State $158

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • San Diego State 43%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • San Diego State 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • San Diego State Very High
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • San Diego State No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • San Diego State 34%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • San Diego State 14%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • San Diego State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • San Diego State 31%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • San Diego State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • San Diego State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • San Diego State 7%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • San Diego State 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • San Diego State 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • San Diego State 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • San Diego State 23%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego State University is larger than UIC based on total student enrollment (41,137 students vs. 33,906 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); San Diego State University is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. San Diego State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; San Diego State University 27:1.

UIC vs. San Diego State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or San Diego State? 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 San Diego State ($10,852 vs. $14,704).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Chicago are 28.4% lower than at San Diego State University ($16,500 vs. $23,030).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 64.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego State (about $5,610 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $8,728.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.1% higher at UIC than at San Diego State University (about $8,556 more per year; $29,884.00 vs. $21,328.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Chicago than at San Diego State University (74% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 39% larger than aid received by San Diego State University students ($16,755 vs. $12,053).

UIC vs. San Diego State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC or San Diego State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between San Diego State and UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 40 points higher than at San Diego State (1200).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (28 vs. 25 at San Diego State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; San Diego State University 1090/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; San Diego State University 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; San Diego State - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; San Diego State Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled freshman San Diego State students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than San Diego State (36.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 20.4% at San Diego State.

UIC vs. San Diego State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and San Diego State? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • San Diego State University's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $8,500 more per year than San Diego State graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $53,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego State University graduates have a $3,401 lower median loan debt than UIC graduates ($15,349 vs. $18,750).
  • Among borrowers, San Diego State graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UIC graduates ($158 vs. $193).
  • More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego State students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 65%)

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.