UIC vs. Utah

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and University of Utah? 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
University of Utah

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Utah Salt Lake City, UT
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Utah Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Utah 36,894
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Utah Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Utah #258
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Utah -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Utah Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Utah

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Utah $9,620
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Utah $30,860
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Utah $13,315
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Utah $16,583
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Utah $12,744
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Utah 73%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Utah 26,822
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Utah 23,062
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Utah 86%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Utah 26%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Utah 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Utah 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Utah 3.64
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Utah A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Utah Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Utah
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Utah 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Utah 1190/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Utah Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Utah Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Utah 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Utah
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Utah 55%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Utah $61,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Utah 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Utah $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Utah $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Utah 51%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Utah 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Utah Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Utah No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Utah 70%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Utah 6%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Utah 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Utah 11%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Utah 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Utah 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Utah 4%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Utah 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Utah 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Utah 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Utah 42%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, IL with University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Utah is larger than UIC based on total student enrollment (36,894 students vs. 33,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UIC vs. Utah Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or Utah? 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 Utah ($10,852 vs. $16,583).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Utah are 19.3% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($13,315 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 49% more expensive for in-state tuition than Utah (about $4,718 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $9,620.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at Utah than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $976 more per year; $30,860.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Chicago than at University of Utah (74% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 31.5% larger than aid received by University of Utah students ($16,755 vs. $12,744).

UIC vs. Utah Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Utah (1290) is 50 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Utah).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; University of Utah 1190/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; University of Utah 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Utah - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; Utah Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Utah students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • Utah has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than UIC (77.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 26% at Utah.

UIC vs. Utah Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and Utah? 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 Utah's six-year graduation rate (55%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $600 more per year than Utah graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $61,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Utah graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than UIC graduates ($15,000 vs. $18,750).
  • Among borrowers, Utah graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UIC graduates ($155 vs. $193).
  • More Utah graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.