University of Illinois Chicago
#7 Best Engineering Colleges in Illinois- Graduation Rate
- 61% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $68,740 A
- Top 8% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $10,974 B
- 36% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 77% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 43.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $43.9 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Best Engineering Colleges in Illinois.
Every $1 spent returns $43.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,882,707.
What The Data Says
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A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 69% more than the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $43.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- World Rank
- #197
- Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 47/100
- Times Higher Education
Why University of Illinois Chicago Matters
University of Illinois Chicago is a public research university in Chicago, IL ranked #197 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and low net price paired with solid completion. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 8% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 22,170
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose University of Illinois Chicago
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 77% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1130–1350. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,974 a year after grants and scholarships — 36% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $68,740 ten years after enrolling — 69% above the typical college, against $16,704 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.56 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
The University of Illinois Chicago has an enrollment of 22,170 students, making it one of the largest public universities in Illinois. With a 77% acceptance rate, the university welcomes a diverse array of students looking for various academic paths.
Graduates from UIC earn a median salary of $68,740 ten years after completing their degree. This figure highlights the university's ability to equip students with skills that translate into higher earning potential. While the graduation rate stands at 61%, the school serves a significant population of Pell Grant recipients, indicating a commitment to accessibility for low-income students.
The net price for attending UIC is $10,974, and graduates carry a median debt of $16,704. This makes it a financially feasible option for many students. Those who thrive here often pursue programs in Business, Health Professions, and Engineering, taking advantage of UIC's strong ties to the Chicago job market.
Rankings
- #7 Best Engineering Colleges in Illinois
- #11 Best Bachelor's Programs in Illinois
- #11 Best Master's Programs in Illinois
- #13 Best Computer Science Colleges in Illinois
- #13 Best Data Science Colleges in Illinois
- #13 Best MBA Programs in Illinois
- #16 Best Biology Colleges in Illinois
- #19 Best Nursing Colleges in Illinois
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Illinois Chicago is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Illinois Chicago? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Chicago, Illinois, University of Illinois Chicago admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,250. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Retention Rate
- 80%
- SAT Average
- 1250
- ACT Midpoint
- 27
- SAT Range
- 1130–1350
- ACT Range
- 25–31
- Full-Time Faculty
- 71%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $14,621
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.76
- First-Gen Students
- 44%
- Applicants
- 23,562
- Admitted
- 18,541
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of Illinois Chicago is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 24% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 24%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 47%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 4%
- of enrolled freshmen
There is an early lane. University offers Early Action, so you can apply ahead of the regular deadline and hear back sooner without committing to enroll.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 51% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Illinois Chicago? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Illinois Chicago is $29,884, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,974. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,529 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,704 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $14,338
- Out-of-State
- $29,884
- Avg Net Price
- $10,974
- Median Debt
- $16,704
- Pell Grant Rate
- 49%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 22%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,529
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,119
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,921
- Family Income $110K+
- $25,047
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Illinois Chicago — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Illinois Chicago Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of $68,740, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $53,218
- 8 Years
- $61,779
- 10 Years
- $68,740
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.24x
- Earning > $25K
- 73%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,103)
- 37%
- 100% (1,103)
- 37%
- 100% (1,103)
- 37%
- 100% (1,103)
- 37%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Illinois Chicago Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Illinois Chicago delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,974/year ($43,896 total). Graduates earn $68,740 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,926,603 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,882,707 (43.9× your investment). The median debt is $16,704, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 61% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $43,896
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,926,603
- Net Return
- $1,882,707
- ROI Multiple
- 43.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,974
- Median Debt
- $16,704
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 61%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Research & Teaching
Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
How Research-Intensive Is University of Illinois Chicago? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Illinois Chicago at #197 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 47/100, teaching at 58/100, and citation impact of 35/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
- World Rank
- #197
- Teaching
- 57.8
- Research
- 46.8
- Citations
- 34.7
- International
- 51.8
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 47/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 35/100
- Citation impact (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $9,948,710
Top Programs
The fields University of Illinois Chicago awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 18% $68,105 early-career
- Health Professions 15% $78,889 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 12% $80,979 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 10% $34,755 early-career
- Engineering 10% $83,898 early-career
- Psychology 9% $36,514 early-career
- Social Sciences 4% $51,598 early-career
- Education 4% $50,714 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Illinois Chicago's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Illinois Chicago? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Chicago, Illinois, University of Illinois Chicago admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,250. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Illinois Chicago? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Illinois Chicago is $29,884, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,974. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,529 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,704 in federal student loans.
Is University of Illinois Chicago Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of $68,740, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of Illinois Chicago? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Illinois Chicago. Its economic connectedness score is 1.56, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is University of Illinois Chicago? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Illinois Chicago at #197 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 47/100, teaching at 58/100, and citation impact of 35/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Does University of Illinois Chicago offer Early Decision?
No. University of Illinois Chicago does not report a binding Early Decision plan, though it does offer a non-binding Early Action option (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is University of Illinois Chicago really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 51% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of Illinois Chicago (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of Illinois Chicago?
About 24% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of Illinois Chicago — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Illinois Chicago.
- California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona, CA · Close peer68% grad $71,902 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA · Close peer76% grad $67,699 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Washington State UniversityPullman, WA · Close peer61% grad $68,905 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK · Close peer75% grad $63,126 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT · Close peer64% grad $67,170 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA · Close peer50% grad $68,077 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Illinois Chicago? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Illinois Chicago. Its economic connectedness score is 1.56, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note