UIC vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and University of Wisconsin Madison? 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 Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than UIC based on total student enrollment (51,044 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 Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

UIC vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin ($10,852 vs. $14,235).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 14.4% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($14,124 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 23.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $2,735 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.9% higher at Wisconsin than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $12,219 more per year; $42,103.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Chicago than at University of Wisconsin Madison (74% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 5.9% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($17,741 vs. $16,755).

UIC vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 210 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming Wisconsin students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at UIC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Wisconsin (45.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

UIC vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin Madison's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than UIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($18,750 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($193 vs. $230).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.