University of Illinois Chicago
#7 Best Engineering Colleges in IllinoisBottom 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.
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What The Data Says
A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Graduates earn 69% more than the national college median.
Every $1 invested returns $43.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
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, Biology & Biomedical, Engineering
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
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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 77% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,250. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 61%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Illinois Chicago, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $29,884 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $10,974 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,529 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $16,704.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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
On the global stage, 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.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of Illinois Chicago awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Illinois Chicago's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Illinois Chicago? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Based in Chicago, Illinois, University of Illinois Chicago keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 77% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,250. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 61%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Illinois Chicago? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Illinois Chicago, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $29,884 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $10,974 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,529 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $16,704.
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 national averages for 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.56 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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 +
On the global stage, 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.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Illinois Chicago.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.56 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note