Let’s walk through this together, as if we were sitting at your kitchen table with the papers spread out in front of us.
What Kind of University UIC Is
University of Illinois Chicago is a four-year public university with the highest doctoral research classification in the system used to categorize universities in this country. In simple terms, that means it is a large institution with serious research and offerings through the doctoral level. IPEDS—the federal system that records these data—identifies it as a degree-granting school, primarily awarding bachelor’s degrees or higher.
Here is one fact that changes how you should picture your child’s day-to-day life there: the official classification describes UIC as a "primarily nonresidential" institution. That does not mean there are no residence halls—there are, and I will tell you shortly how many students they can house. It means that, according to the definition of that label, either fewer than one in four undergraduate students live in institution-provided housing, or fewer than half attend full time. The data do not specify which of those two conditions was met. What you can clearly take away is this: if your child will commute every day, tuition is not the only thing to budget for. There is also the bus, gas, and hours spent traveling.
Another thing worth knowing if your child arrives after studying somewhere else: the Carnegie classification places UIC among institutions that receive many transfer students. That does not tell you how many credits they bring in or how many are lost in the transfer. If that is your child’s path, ask in writing which courses will count and which will not before enrolling.
UIC is in Chicago, Illinois, within Cook County and the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan area. The census code places it in a principal city with 250,000 residents or more. That does not tell you how to get to campus or what it is like to live nearby—you can find that out by driving the route on a weekday, at the actual time of your child’s classes, if you are considering having your child live at home. The map almost never tells the truth about traffic.
And here is one detail that many families look for but have trouble finding: UIC does not appear on the list of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), is not a tribal college or university, and is not a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 universities in this national directory, 138 have at least one of those three designations. UIC’s not having them says nothing about which communities it serves or how your child will feel there. Ask directly: what cultural centers exist today, what student organizations are available, and better yet, talk with someone who is already studying there.
The Actual Size and Who Makes Up This Community
UIC reported 33,522 students enrolled in the official fall count. It is a large school—one of the largest the government recognizes in its highest category. But that total does not help you as-is: it is divided between 22,107 undergraduate students and 11,415 graduate students. If your child is entering a bachelor’s program, the number that matters is 22,107, not the total. A substantial part of that large school consists of people who have already completed a degree and are continuing their studies.
Now, something that strikes me as one of the most important points in this entire article: 36 out of every 100 undergraduate students at UIC were reported as Hispanic or Latino. That is more than one in three. Compared with the 519 selective-admission, four-year public schools reporting this information, UIC is in the top quarter: three out of four similar schools report an equal or lower share. Being Latino on this campus would not be the exception.
But I need to tell you something very clearly here because it is easy to confuse the two: a high percentage of Latino students is not the same as support for Latino students. This figure counts how many there are. It does not say whether there is a Spanish-speaking counselor, whether targeted tutoring is available, or whether those students complete their degrees as readily as others. And it is the percentage for the entire school, not for the specific program that interests your child. Counting is not supporting. That is something you need to ask about separately.
As for the rest of the student community, to give you the full picture: adults ages 25 to 64 are a clear minority, only 9 out of every 100. The balance between men and women is fairly even, with women making up 53 out of every 100. And the great majority of first-time students, 89 out of every 100, reported living in Illinois when they applied. If you are from out of state, that is worth keeping in mind: most of their classmates will be from the area.
How the Academic Year Works and How Flexible the Offerings Are
UIC organizes its academic year by semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. It is the most common calendar and the easiest to plan around in the United States.
The university reported to the government that it accepts credit from AP exams, as well as what IPEDS calls "credit for life experiences"—learning gained through independent study, work, a portfolio, prior licenses, or certifications, among other routes. It also accepts credit for military training and enrolls high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program.
Now for the part I cannot skip: saying that it accepts AP does not mean it awards credit for every exam or every score. It does not say what scores are required or whether those credits will count toward your child’s specific degree. Ask for the equivalency evaluation in writing before enrolling. Do not build that savings into your budget until you have it in hand.
As for what students can study: in a single year, UIC awarded 5,177 bachelor’s degrees across 25 different fields of study. That is a broad range. No one area accounts for most of them: the most popular, business and management, represented only 17 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year. Compared with 514 similar schools, UIC ranks in the top quarter for the variety of fields represented in its offerings.
But 25 fields of study are not 25 specific programs, and a row in the report may show zero degrees awarded that year. Verify the exact program that interests your child by name, not by its general field.
And regarding group size: UIC reports 17 students for every instructional staff member, in full-time-equivalent terms. Compared with similar schools, that figure falls in the middle—neither among the lowest nor among the highest. By itself, this number does not tell you the actual size of first-year classes. That is a separate question, and you need to ask it directly.
The Pathways and Opportunities the University Reports Offering
UIC reported that it offers study abroad, undergraduate research outside the classroom, at least one complete program that can be taken only in the evenings or on weekends, credit-bearing developmental education, and pathways preparing students for teacher certification, including state approval for initial certification. These are real components the institution reports as available. Their appearance in the report does not tell you how they work for your child’s specific degree program: confirm that directly with the program.
How the Admissions Process Works
UIC does not have open admission. It reviews several components before saying yes. Of nine possible considerations, it marked six as required: the high school record, grade point average, class rank, completion of the required college-preparatory courses, the personal essay, and an English-proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies.
What it reported that it does not consider, even if applicants submit it: letters of recommendation, a portfolio or competency exam, work experience, and whether a relative attended the university.
Put plainly: this is a long application. It has several required components, and each one takes time—not just the night before the deadline. The published application fee is $60. And the essay is required, not optional: have your child start it during the summer, not the week before the application closes. The first draft is almost never the one that gets submitted.
Now for the numbers on how accessible admission is. In the 2023 cycle, UIC reported 25,420 first-time applicants. Of those, 19,955 received an offer of admission. That is 79 out of every 100. Compared with similar schools, it is a typical rate, slightly below the midpoint of that group. Seen the other way around, 5,465 applicants did not receive an offer, which is still a considerable number.
What this means for your family: this school receives thousands of applications, and even so, 79 out of every 100 receive a yes. Your child has a real reason to apply. Your child also has a real reason to submit a complete application on time. And remember: that 79 comes from a single cycle, not a permanent rule at the school. When it is your child’s turn, check the number again for the applicable year.
Here is a figure that many families misinterpret, so I want to be precise: out of every 100 admitted first-time students, only 23 ultimately enrolled at UIC that fall. The other 77 had an offer but did not accept it. This is a typical figure among similar schools, neither particularly high nor low. Do not read it as a mark against the school—the federal record does not say why each person chose what they chose. Above all, other people’s decisions do not tell you what the university will offer your family. Wait for your own letter showing the net price. With that number in hand, decide whether UIC stays on the list.
Regarding standardized tests: the SAT and ACT are not required at UIC. If your child submits them, they are considered; if not, the application remains valid just the same. Of the students who did enroll, 29 out of every 100 submitted SAT scores, and among those students, the middle half scored between 560 and 660 in reading and writing and between 560 and 680 in math. Those ranges describe students who had already enrolled and submitted scores—not all applicants, and they do not prove that the scores determined anything. That 560 is not a minimum that must be reached, and that 660 does not guarantee anything either.
If your child arrives as a transfer student: in the fall of 2023, UIC reported 2,041 undergraduate students who enrolled there for the first time after studying at another institution. That is one of the highest counts among similar schools—although it partly reflects the fact that UIC is a large school, not necessarily that it has a higher proportion of transfer students. The rate at which transfer students later leave is not reported here. How many credits they receive when they arrive is a question to ask the school directly.
The Published Cost and What Students Actually Pay
At University of Illinois Chicago, among 1,059 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or in-district rate, and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $9,257. Among 525 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $12,887; among 246 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $25,479. For dependent students, the income band combines their parents’ income with their own.
There is a difference of $16,222 between the average for the lowest-income band (1,059 students) and the average for the highest-income band (246 students). These are group averages, not a prediction of your family’s price. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $11,499.
The advertised price is not the same as what students pay. Here, for students with low income, the average net price was $9,257 in the 2022-23 academic year.
Because the price changes so much from one income band to another, correctly identifying yours comes first. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average for grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The financial aid letter sent to you is what governs.
Aid and Ways to Pay
At UIC, 67 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received some form of aid that does not have to be repaid—grants or scholarships. Among those who received it, the annual average was $14,287. That average is not spread across everyone: it counts only those who actually received something.
The Pell Grant—federal aid for low-income families—went to 50 out of every 100 degree-seeking students. That is half the group or more. Applying for that aid here is neither unusual nor limited to a small number of students.
Regarding loans: 25 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal loan in the 2022-23 school year, and those who borrowed received an average of $6,270 that year. Compared with similar schools, UIC is on the low side: seven out of ten similar schools or more had a higher share of students with debt.
That average covers only one year and only federal loans in the student’s name. It does not include loans that parents sometimes sign for, bank debt, or credit card debt. Nor is it the total debt someone has upon graduation—that would require adding together several years, and that number is not in this report.
And something I want to tell you with complete candor: this percentage describes other families, not yours. The amount your child would need to borrow comes from your child’s own financial aid letter. Wait for that letter before ruling out the school and before committing to it.
To pay what remains, UIC reports offering a guaranteed tuition plan, an installment payment plan, and participation in a Promise-type program. It is worth asking the financial office directly about each one.
Campus Life, Course Format, and Available Support
UIC does have its own housing, with a reported capacity of 3,489 students, either on or off campus. Not all first-time, full-time students are required to live there—that does not mean no program requires it. It also offers meal plans, with a fixed number of meals per week under the largest plan. The existence of the option does not guarantee a place: ask in writing for that year’s rate, the application deadline, and whether housing is guaranteed or applicants are placed on a waiting list.
UIC reports ROTC opportunities in all three branches: Army, Navy, and Air Force. Having all three marked is uncommon—only 135 of the 3,012 universities in this directory do. But being marked does not confirm that the program is offered on this specific campus, that space is available, or that a scholarship is available. Ask directly about each branch by name.
It also competes in intercollegiate athletics and is affiliated with the NCAA, with confirmed participation in basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. The affiliation belongs to the school; it is not a promise to your child. If athletics matters in the decision, contact the coach for that sport directly.
Regarding distance education: UIC does offer online courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, but only 4 out of every 100 undergraduate students took all their classes at a distance. The other 96 took at least one class in person. The university also reported having at least one complete program that can be completed at a distance, although the data do not confirm whether that specific program is undergraduate.
The library operates with paid staff, reports annual expenditures above the government-recorded threshold of $100,000, has physical and digital materials, and participates in interlibrary lending. Exceeding that threshold does not confirm that databases are available for your child’s specific degree program—that is something to ask about by program name.
As for general support, UIC reports: combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, placement services upon program completion, on-campus child care, a postsecondary transition program for students with intellectual disabilities, a point of contact for veterans and service members, a veterans’ student organization, and a webpage dedicated to services for people with disabilities. The fact that these services are reported does not confirm their quality or effectiveness for your child’s particular situation. Verify that by speaking with the appropriate office.
How Likely Your Child Is to Stay and Graduate
To me, this is one of the most important sections, so let’s proceed carefully.
Of the cohort of first-time, full-time students who entered in the fall of 2022, 78 out of every 100 were still enrolled at UIC one year later or had already graduated. This figure is slightly above the midpoint among similar schools—in the middle range, neither among the highest nor among the lowest. Among part-time students, retention was 54 out of every 100, but these are two different groups of people with different circumstances: do not compare those two figures as if they were equivalent.
Regarding graduation: of the 4,010 first-time, full-time students who began bachelor’s degree programs in 2017, 2,418 had graduated from UIC within six years. That is 60 out of every 100. At four years, the figure drops to 40 out of every 100—twenty percentage points lower. Four years is the timeline most families include in their budgets, so that gap truly matters: before signing, ask how long the program that interests your child usually takes in practice, how required courses are scheduled, and how the total cost changes if it extends for another year.
Compared with similar schools, UIC’s six-year rate is above the group median. And an honest note: the available reports do not allow us to fully reconstruct what happened to the rest of that cohort who did not graduate from UIC within that period. Their not appearing with a degree does not mean they failed, nor does it mean they transferred successfully. The data simply do not say.
There is also a longer-term view. Tracking a cohort of 5,815 undergraduate students who entered between July 2015 and June 2016—combining first-time students and students with prior experience, as well as full-time and part-time students—by the August 2023 reporting date (eight years later), 69 out of every 100 had earned a UIC degree or certificate. Among Pell Grant recipients, the figure was 68 out of every 100, just four percentage points below the group without Pell Grants. Compared with similar schools, UIC ranks in the top quarter on this eight-year measure.
Of the remainder, 22 out of every 100 appear without a credential from this institution in the corresponding measure, although the definition of that measure contains an inconsistency that prevents a precise statement about how many were still enrolled on that exact date. And 8 out of every 100—exactly 484 people out of 5,815—were left with unknown enrollment status: the report simply could not determine whether they were still enrolled anywhere. Unknown does not mean they were not studying. It means that information is not known.
None of these figures predicts what will happen to your child in particular. They are the record of thousands of different stories, summarized in a number. What you can do with them is ask, with those numbers in hand, what concrete support exists to make your child’s path more like the paths of those who did finish.
Putting the Pieces Together
You now know quite a bit about what official data allow us to see about University of Illinois Chicago: a large, public, research-intensive university with a community where being Latino is not unusual; an admissions process that is accessible but demanding in its documentation; a high published cost that falls substantially depending on family income; and graduation outcomes that are above those of many similar schools, though incomplete regarding what happens to part of each cohort.
None of this tells you whether UIC is the right university for your child. That answer does not live in any federal report. It lies in what your child wants to study and has built so far, and in what your family can and is willing to pay. Put this piece together with those other two, and then a real plan begins to emerge.
Source note: The information in this article comes from reports that University of Illinois Chicago submitted to the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), primarily from the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles, along with comparisons within a census of 3,012 institutions and a group of 519 selective-admission, four-year public universities. Best College Aid does not represent University of Illinois Chicago or any government agency; this article organizes and explains public data to help you understand them.