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Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale admits nearly everyone — 86.9% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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Southern Illinois University-Carbondale anchors the college town of Carbondale, IL, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint. The university runs its own medical system, which colors both its budget and its biggest programs.
Its highest-earning path is Fire Protection, where graduates median $108,135 four years out. Faculty pay averages $102,012 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 8,494 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 66.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 910 and 1140 — below the IL middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 910–1140 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 470 | 520 | 580 |
| SAT Math | 440 | 500 | 560 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 24 | 27 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale received 10,401 applications and admitted 9,407 (90.4%), with 1,621 enrolling.
How Southern Illinois University-Carbondale compares
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Illinois median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 86.9% | 77% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $13,334 | $31,360 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $53,390 | $58,572 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's median earnings are $53,390 — below the Illinois benchmark of $58,572. Weigh that against the $13,334 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale prices by residency: $13,334 in-state versus $13,334 out-of-state — a $0 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale enrolls 8,494 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
62.4% graduate within six years. Roughly 38% don't — ask a Southern Illinois University-Carbondale tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Fire Protection | $108,135 |
| Computer Science | $91,299 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $87,442 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $86,238 |
| Computer Engineering | $85,056 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $83,853 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $82,901 |
| Civil Engineering | $81,888 |
| Air Transportation | $81,394 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $80,220 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $79,299 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $78,712 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $78,040 |
| Soil Sciences | $74,026 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $71,910 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $70,478 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $69,552 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $69,034 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $68,609 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $67,961 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $67,349 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $66,130 |
| Architecture | $63,104 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $61,807 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $61,493 |
| Economics | $60,612 |
| Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $60,203 |
| Marketing | $58,934 |
| Agriculture, General | $57,596 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $56,680 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $56,632 |
| Political Science and Government | $55,544 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $55,329 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $55,217 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $55,039 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $53,392 |
| Criminology | $52,916 |
| History | $52,900 |
| Biology, General | $51,947 |
| Forestry | $50,394 |
| Social Work | $49,952 |
| Journalism | $49,880 |
| Psychology, General | $48,728 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $48,127 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | $45,623 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | $45,177 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $44,902 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $43,823 |
| Legal Support Services | $43,654 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $43,236 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $43,207 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $42,905 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $42,113 |
| Animal Sciences | $41,932 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $41,835 |
| Anthropology | $41,242 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $40,592 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $39,926 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $37,786 |
Median earnings for these 59 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $53,390 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 34 additional Southern Illinois University-Carbondale programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 910–1140 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 86.9% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's acceptance rate?
90.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 9,407 admitted from 10,401 applicants.
How much does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale cost?
In-state tuition is $13,334; out-of-state students pay $13,334. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Southern Illinois University-Carbondale graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $53,390 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Illinois
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville — 97.5% admitted
- Taylor Business Institute — 91.2% admitted
- Trinity International University-Illinois — 100% admitted
- VanderCook College of Music — 89.5% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.