UIC vs. WSU

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and Wayne 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
Wayne State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • WSU Detroit, MI
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • WSU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • WSU 23,803
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • WSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • WSU #551
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • WSU -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • WSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • WSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • WSU $15,190
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • WSU $32,037
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • WSU $14,252
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • WSU $14,416
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • WSU $12,953
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • WSU 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • WSU 16,981
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • WSU 13,781
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • WSU 81.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • WSU 22.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • WSU 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • WSU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • WSU 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • WSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • WSU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • WSU
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • WSU 23/29
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • WSU 1060/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • WSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • WSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • WSU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • WSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • WSU 26%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • WSU $51,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • WSU 38%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • WSU $22,258
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • WSU $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • WSU 40%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • WSU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • WSU High
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • WSU No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • WSU 57%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • WSU 8%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • WSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • WSU 5%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • WSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • WSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • WSU 3%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • WSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • WSU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • WSU 95%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • WSU 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than WSU based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 23,803 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Wayne State University is in Detroit, MI (Large City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wayne State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Wayne State University 14:1.

UIC vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or WSU? 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 WSU ($10,852 vs. $14,416).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 13.6% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($14,252 vs. $16,500).
  • Wayne State University is 5.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $852 more per year; $15,190.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.2% higher at WSU than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $2,153 more per year; $32,037.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wayne State University than at University of Illinois Chicago (98% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 29.4% larger than aid received by Wayne State University students ($16,755 vs. $12,953).

UIC vs. WSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 70 points higher than at WSU (1170).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at WSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Wayne State University 1060/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Wayne State University 23/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; WSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; WSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WSU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • WSU has a higher acceptance rate (81.2%) than UIC (77.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 22.4% at WSU.

UIC vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and WSU? 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 Wayne State University's (26%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $10,900 more per year than WSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $3,508 lower median loan debt than WSU graduates ($18,750 vs. $22,258).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WSU graduates ($193 vs. $230).
  • More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 38%)

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.