Overview
Enrollment
Best Colleges Rank
| Location | Carbondale, Illinois |
| Online | siuc.edu |
| School Type | Public 4 Year |
| Setting | Rural Fringe |
| Size | Mid-size |
| Status | Non-profit |
| On Campus Housing | Yes |
| Level of Study | Undergrad/Graduate |
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, located in the city of Carbondale in southern Illinois, sits on a 1,136-acre campus surrounded by forests, lakes, and farms approximately 100 miles southeast of St. Louis. The campus features a mix of mid-century modern and contemporary architecture, with Thompson Woods and Campus Lake integrated into its landscape. Established in 1869 as a teacher training institution, SIUC has evolved into a comprehensive research university offering programs across multiple colleges, with notable strengths in aviation, agriculture, engineering, and communications. The university maintains its own 2,000-acre experimental farm and operates one of the nation's leading aviation programs, complete with its own airport and flight training facility. Students are required to live on campus for their first year, with multiple residence halls and apartment-style housing options available, while the university competes in NCAA Division I athletics as the Salukis in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Ratings
Overall
Academics
Resources
Outcomes
Value
Southern Illinois University is rated within the top 45% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 6 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated
Rankings
Rankings for Southern Illinois University Carbondale within the 2025 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
#491 in Best Colleges in the U.S.
#147 in Best Public Colleges in the U.S.
#22 in Best Colleges in Illinois
#5 in Best Public Colleges in Illinois
#295 in Best Value Colleges in the U.S.
#22 in Best Value Colleges in Illinois
View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.
Getting In
Admission Standards
| SAT | 910/1140 |
| ACT | 20/27 |
| GPA | 3.24 |
Applications Accepted
| Applications Due | - |
| Applicant Competition | Very Low |
| Application Fee | $40 |
Annual Cost to Attend
Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,100 |
| Other Fees | $3,606 |
| Room and Board | $12,114 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $2,951 |
| Total One Year Cost | $29,409 |
Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
| Subject | Percent of Class |
|---|---|
| Education | 20% |
| Business | 10% |
| Health Professions | 8% |
| Engineering Technology | 7% |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 5% |
Other Colleges to Consider
Students considering Southern Illinois University are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=149222 IPEDS survey data for Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Current students may use the Southern Illinois University Carbondale GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.
Last updated February 24, 2025