University of Illinois Chicago

Public · Moderately Selective · IL

Photo: Sea Cow (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationIL · Midwest

SettingUrban

Undergrads22,170

Student:faculty17:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate41.7%

6-yr grad rate61.6%

Drop-out rate19.8%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$14k

Out-of-state tuition$30k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity77.5%

Gender diversity53.5%

International7.5%

Identity—

Overview

UIC is Chicago's largest university and a major public research institution located just southwest of the Loop. It has a deeply diverse, first-generation-friendly student body and an identity shaped by its urban location and large medical enterprise, and it operates as a genuinely distinct campus from the University of Illinois's Urbana-Champaign flagship rather than a satellite of it.

Academics

Health sciences are the clear strength, anchored by one of the largest medical schools in the country and extensive nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, and public health programs, all housed within the same academic medical center. Engineering, architecture, and urban planning are also well-regarded, often drawing directly on the city as a working laboratory for design and infrastructure projects. Research opportunities for undergraduates are genuinely accessible given the scale of the university's research enterprise.

Campus & student life

UIC is an urban, largely commuter-oriented campus where the city itself substitutes for much of the traditional campus social scene, and students draw on Chicago's neighborhoods rather than a self-contained quad for their social lives. Its location just outside downtown gives students easy access to internships and part-time work across the city, and the campus's own distinctive Brutalist architecture, especially around the original quad, is a recognizable landmark in its own right.

Getting in

Admissions is holistic but weighs academic record heavily, and UIC has become an increasingly common choice for strong Chicago-area students who want a major research university and its large medical enterprise without leaving the city. It is generally less selective than Urbana-Champaign, making it a realistic option for a broader range of students.

After graduation

Health-sciences graduates move directly into Chicago's extensive hospital and healthcare systems, aided by UIC's own academic medical center. Engineering and urban-planning graduates find steady work with Chicago-area firms and government agencies. The alumni network is heavily concentrated in Chicago itself, a practical advantage for graduates who plan to stay in the region.

Worth knowing

The scale of UIC's medical enterprise means pre-health students have unusually direct exposure to clinical settings and research even as undergraduates, a genuine advantage for students planning on medicine, nursing, or pharmacy. The largely commuter character of the student body also means campus can feel quieter on weekends than at a traditional residential university.

uic.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate77.3%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1130–1350 · ACT 25–31

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Early actionNov 1

Regular decisionFeb 1

Verified from the school’s admissions page ↗

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Common App.

Priority / scholarshipNov 1

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗