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University of Illinois Chicago
Most applicants get into University of Illinois Chicago — 77.3% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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University of Illinois Chicago sits in Chicago proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The university runs its own medical system, which colors both its budget and its biggest programs.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $120,470 four years out. Faculty pay averages $175,452 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. Most of its 22,170 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 80.2% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1120 and 1340 — above the IL middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Illinois Chicago's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
You can apply to University of Illinois Chicago without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1120 and 1340; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 560 | 620 | 660 |
| SAT Math | 560 | 610 | 680 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 28 | 32 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Illinois Chicago received 25,420 applications and admitted 19,955 (78.5%), with 4,647 enrolling.
How University of Illinois Chicago compares
| University of Illinois Chicago | Illinois median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 77.3% | 77% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $14,338 | $31,360 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $68,740 | $58,572 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Illinois Chicago student earns $68,740 — 17% above the Illinois median of $58,572 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, University of Illinois Chicago prices by residency: $14,338 in-state versus $29,884 out-of-state — a $15,546 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
22,170 undergraduates make University of Illinois Chicago a large campus: broad course catalogs and big intro lectures come as a package.
61.6% graduate within six years. Roughly 38% don't — ask a University of Illinois Chicago tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at University of Illinois Chicago
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $120,470 |
| Computer Engineering | $102,691 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $92,002 |
| Chemical Engineering | $87,407 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $87,393 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $87,384 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $87,037 |
| Industrial Engineering | $86,202 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $86,088 |
| Civil Engineering | $83,680 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $83,218 |
| Information Science/Studies | $81,180 |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | $77,321 |
| Marketing | $71,293 |
| Statistics | $68,585 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $68,109 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $67,555 |
| Mathematics | $67,016 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $66,694 |
| Chemistry | $64,442 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $64,100 |
| Economics | $63,429 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $63,233 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $61,206 |
| Political Science and Government | $60,020 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $59,295 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $59,188 |
| Biology, General | $59,119 |
| Public Health | $58,603 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $58,268 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $57,594 |
| Architecture | $56,975 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $56,869 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $56,845 |
| History | $55,326 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $55,247 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $54,584 |
| Sociology | $53,962 |
| Psychology, General | $52,736 |
| Anthropology | $51,907 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $50,429 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $50,202 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $50,123 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $49,393 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $48,442 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $45,253 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $41,924 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $36,792 |
Median earnings for these 48 University of Illinois Chicago programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $68,740 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 21 additional University of Illinois Chicago programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Illinois Chicago?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1120–1340 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 77.3% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Illinois Chicago's acceptance rate?
78.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 19,955 admitted from 25,420 applicants.
How much does University of Illinois Chicago cost?
In-state tuition is $14,338; out-of-state students pay $29,884. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of Illinois Chicago graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $68,740 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Illinois
- Illinois College — 78.2% admitted
- Fox College — 70.2% admitted
- Eureka College — 85% admitted
- Elmhurst University — 73.6% 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.