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Chicago, IL · Public · 22,170 undergraduates · urban

University of Illinois Chicago

Less selective

Add to my college list Review admission

Chicago’s major public research university combines an urban campus with direct pathways into professional education.

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Institutional profile

Highly regarded Exceptional in mobility, and strong in affordability.
Academic Solid Affordability Strong Career Solid Mobility Exceptional Experience Solid
Academic standing Solid
Affordability Strong
Career outcomes Solid
Mobility Exceptional
Student experience Solid
Admission
78.5% admitted

25,420 applicants in the reported year

Price by income
Resident and nonresident prices differ

Compare recent average annual costs by household income

Completion
69.7%

$68,740 median earnings 10 years after enrollment

What sets University of Illinois Chicago apart

Academic design

UIC spans liberal arts and major professional schools, with GPPA offering selected freshmen conditional guaranteed routes into several graduate and professional programs.

Campus pattern

Near West Side campus beside downtown Chicago and the Illinois Medical District.

Career & value signal

Chicago employers, hospitals, government agencies, and nonprofits are integrated into the surrounding environment.

Can I get in?

78.5% admitted

GPPA requires additional materials and is separate from ordinary undergraduate admission.

Recent applicant pool

25,420

About 79 in every 100 applicants were admitted.

Admission rate 78.5%
Entering class

Academic range

SAT middle 50%1120–1340
9801480
ACT middle 50%25–32
2036

Of admitted students, 29% submitted an SAT, and 4% submitted an ACT. The ACT range comes from a small share of admitted students and does not describe the full class.

Academic benchmarkLess selective

Admission by residency

Open either way

Degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students · Fall 2023

University of Illinois Chicago admitted 81.1% of Illinois applicants and 80.7% of applicants from other states. It admits most of the students who apply, whichever group they are in. Illinois students took 89% of the seats in the entering class.

In-state81.1% admitted

15,696 admitted from 19,363 applicants

Out-of-state80.7% admitted

3,199 admitted from 3,963 applicants

International50.6% admitted

1,060 admitted from 2,094 applicants

In the season card

Where your GPA sits in the entering class

The full entering-class GPA distribution for University of Illinois Chicago, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.

See where I land

In the season card

What University of Illinois Chicago weighs when it reads a file

See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.

  • Course rigor  
  • GPA  
  • Test scores  
  • Essay  
  • Recommendations  
  • Extracurriculars  
  • Demonstrated interest  
See what counts here

What moves the application

The evidence that separates a strong file

01

Show preparation for this curriculum

UIC spans liberal arts and major professional schools, with GPPA offering selected freshmen conditional guaranteed routes into several graduate and professional programs.

02

Make institutional fit specific

Chicago’s major public research university combines an urban campus with direct pathways into professional education.

03

Use the application route carefully

GPPA requires additional materials and is separate from ordinary undergraduate admission.

How to apply

Rounds, route, and required materials

GPPA requires additional materials and is separate from ordinary undergraduate admission.

Early ActionNov 2
Regular DecisionFeb 1
Fee and waiver$70 application fee

Fee waiver: accepted

Major and program admission

Some fields have their own entry path.

The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.

ArchitectureAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

BusinessAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Computer scienceAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

EngineeringAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

NursingAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Can I afford it?

Compare annual cost by household income.

Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.

Published annual cost$41,946
Average annual cost after aid, in-state$11,000
Affordability profileStrong

College funding

Scholarships and financial aid

Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.

University of Illinois Chicago publishes four merit awards, the largest reaching $5,000 to $10,000 a year. one require a separate scholarship application. one renew past the first year.

Reviewed with admission Merit scholarship

Open across the university · Merit · Competitive

Reviewed with admission Merit scholarship

Open across the university · Merit · Competitive

Separate scholarship application Merit scholarship

Through the honors college · Merit · Competitive

Consideration not stated An award reaching $5,000 to $10,000 a year

Through one school within the university · Merit · Competitive · Renews

Engineering

In the season card

These four awards, by name

What each one is called, what it pays, the grades and scores it asks for, and what to send.

  • The name of each award 
  • What it pays 
  • The grades and scores it asks for 
  • How to be considered 
  • What to send, and where 
See the full read
Financial aid timing2027-2028 FAFSA and Alternative Application become available October 1, 2026Financial aid timingNovember 1, 2026 FAFSA filing deadline for incoming students interested in the 2027-2028 AIM HIGH Chancellor's Fellows scholarshipFinancial aid timingUIC priority FAFSA and Alternative App filing deadline: December 1 Plan with your figuresOpen this college’s net price calculator NAVY ROTCAvailable through Illinois Institute of Technology
Open financial aid plan

In the season card

Average annual cost by household income at University of Illinois Chicago

Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.

  • $0–30k 
  • $30–48k 
  • $48–75k 
  • $75–110k 
  • $110k+ 
Open the price by income

Is it worth it?

Completion, debt, and earnings

Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.

Complete within 8 years69.7%

Degree completion across the reported entering cohort

Return after year one79.3%

First-year students who return for year two

Median federal debtWhat students owe on the way out

And what that comes to against what they earn.

Median earnings$68,740

Reported 10 years after enrollment

Academic portfolio

Largest bachelor’s fields

How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.

Biology, General

Recent graduates465
Median earnings$59,119

Psychology, General

Recent graduates375
Median earnings$52,736

Computer Science

Recent graduates337
Median earnings$120,470

Admits separately

What is campus life like?

University of Illinois Chicago beyond the classroom

Near West Side campus beside downtown Chicago and the Illinois Medical District.

Academics

A defining academic feature

UIC spans liberal arts and major professional schools, with GPPA offering selected freshmen conditional guaranteed routes into several graduate and professional programs.

Campus setting

What shapes an ordinary week

Near West Side campus beside downtown Chicago and the Illinois Medical District.

Career & value

Where the degree can lead

Chicago employers, hospitals, government agencies, and nonprofits are integrated into the surrounding environment.

22,170 undergraduatesMidwesturban setting30.9% of first-year students live on campus