UIC vs. UT Arlington

Comparable Facts

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

The University of Texas at Arlington is larger than UIC based on total student enrollment (44,956 students vs. 33,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); The University of Texas at Arlington is in Arlington, TX (Large City setting).
• University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Arlington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; The University of Texas at Arlington 23:1.

UIC vs. UT Arlington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or UT Arlington? 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 UT Arlington ($10,852 vs. $13,755).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Arlington are 32% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($11,228 vs. $16,500).
• University of Illinois Chicago is 20% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Arlington (about $2,388 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $11,950.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at UIC than at The University of Texas at Arlington (about $302 more per year; $29,884.00 vs. $29,582.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Arlington than at University of Illinois Chicago (88% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 38.2% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Arlington students ($16,755 vs. $12,127).

UIC vs. UT Arlington Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 110 points higher than at UT Arlington (1130).
• Incoming UIC students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 23 at UT Arlington).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; The University of Texas at Arlington 1010/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; The University of Texas at Arlington 19/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; UT Arlington - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; UT Arlington Jun 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UT Arlington students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at UIC (3.41).
• UT Arlington has a higher acceptance rate (79.9%) than UIC (77.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 26.4% at UT Arlington.

UIC vs. UT Arlington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and UT Arlington? 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 Illinois Chicago's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than The University of Texas at Arlington's (40%).
• Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $10,200 more per year than UT Arlington graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $51,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Texas at Arlington graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than UIC graduates ($18,000 vs. $18,750).
• Among borrowers, UT Arlington graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UIC graduates ($186 vs. $193).
• More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Arlington students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 56%)

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.