#370 in the world · QS 2027

University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago's largest university: an R1 research campus on the Near West Side, top-20 nationally for social mobility.

Chicago, Illinois, United States Public research university Founded 1913 Official website

Acceptance rate: 76%; First-years who entered in fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
Students: 37,199; 25,620 undergraduates
Student–faculty: 19:1; ratio
Tuition: $28,352; 2026-27
Founded: 1913

About UIC

The University of Illinois Chicago is the Chicago campus of the University of Illinois System and the largest university in the Chicago metropolitan area. It traces its roots to the city's 19th-century health colleges, which became the University of Illinois Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy in 1913, and to the Chicago Circle campus that opened in 1965. In fall 2026 it enrolled a record 37,199 students, 25,620 of them undergraduates, across 16 colleges.

UIC is an R1 research university, and its research funding reached $498 million in fiscal year 2026, including a record $207.9 million from the National Institutes of Health. Undergraduates study in colleges including Liberal Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Business Administration, Architecture, Design, and the Arts, Nursing, Applied Health Sciences, Public Health, Urban Planning and Public Affairs, and Education, with an Honors College for high achievers.

Admission is accessible: 22,674 of 29,929 first-year applicants were admitted for fall 2025 (75.8%), and about two-thirds of applicants apply test-optional. UIC stands out for social mobility, ranking No. 17 nationally in U.S. News' 2027 edition. It suits students who want an urban, diverse research university in the middle of Chicago, especially in health sciences, nursing, engineering and computer science.

Teach, research, serve, care.

University motto

Why students choose UIC

Social mobility: U.S. News 2027 ranks UIC No. 17 nationally and No. 1 in Illinois for enrolling and graduating Pell Grant students.

UIC Aspire covers tuition and mandatory fees for Illinois students from families earning $75,000 or less, and serves about 27% of undergraduates.

Health sciences depth: the BSN is tied No. 9 nationally in U.S. News 2027, and the College of Medicine alone brought in $259.4 million in research funding in FY2026.

A campus on Chicago's Near West Side, served by the UIC-Halsted L station, with the city's employers and hospitals close at hand.

Admissions

First-years who entered in fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)

22,674 admitted from 29,929 applicants

SAT 1030–1300

1000120014001600

Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.

ACT 24–31

2024283236

Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.

Each UIC college sets its own criteria, and STEM, nursing and pre-health majors look closely at maths and science grades. For the admitted fall 2026 class, test-optional applicants' middle-50% unweighted GPAs ranged from 2.9-3.6 (Urban Planning and Public Affairs) to 3.6-4.0 (Nursing); test submitters to Engineering had SAT 1310-1470.

Testing Test-optional: ACT or SAT scores are not required but are reviewed if sent. UIC needs a score report: an official report, scores listed on your high school transcript, or an unofficial test report showing your name and test date; it does not accept self-reported scores or superscores. About two-thirds of applicants apply without scores.

Grades Average high school GPA of fall 2025 first-years was 3.45 (CDS). Middle-50% unweighted GPA of admitted fall 2026 test-submitters by college: 3.3-3.9 Applied Health Sciences, 3.6-4.0 Engineering, 3.4-3.9 Liberal Arts and Sciences, 3.8-4.0 Nursing.

Typical entry requirements

High school coursework (recommended)	4 years English, 3-4 years maths (4 with precalculus or higher for STEM and business), 3 years science (4 for STEM and business), 3 years social science, 2 years of a second language
English language	IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 80 Minimums: TOEFL iBT 80 (or 4.5 on the new scale), IELTS Academic 6.5, PTE Academic 54, Duolingo 120 (accepted from fall 2027). The UIC Tutorium in Intensive English (TIE) assessment is accepted if you cannot sit these tests.

Deadlines

Early Action Non-binding Next deadline · In 27 days

November 2, 2026

Fall 2027 first-year early action. The application must be complete, including all documents, by the deadline.
Regular Decision Non-binding In ~4 months

February 1, 2027

Fall 2027 first-year regular decision. International applicants follow the same deadlines.

Dates are from UIC's undergraduate requirements and deadlines page for fall 2027. Apply by the scholarship priority date to maximise merit consideration.

How to apply

Common App with UIC-specific questions and essays; $70 application fee (fee waivers for domestic applicants only); official high school transcript; optional SAT/ACT (score report or scores on transcript; no self-reported scores); optional recommendation letters and mid-year report; separate application and interview for the Honors College, and a supplemental application for Business Scholars.

What admissions looks for

High school performance: course selection and rigor, and your grade point average.
Essays judged on quality of writing, demonstrated academic interest and any circumstances that affected your performance.
Preparation for your chosen major, since each college sets its own criteria (for example, stronger maths and science for STEM and pre-health).
Optional test, AP and IB scores, which are reviewed if provided.

Tips for applying to UIC

1 Choose your major carefully: UIC evaluates you against your intended college's expectations, and STEM applicants are strongly advised to take four years of maths and science.
2 Use the essays to explain context, such as family responsibilities or school circumstances, that shaped your grades; UIC explicitly looks for this.
3 If you want the Honors College, plan for its separate application and interview, which also decide Honors scholarships.
4 Illinois residents from families earning $75,000 or less should check UIC Aspire, which covers tuition and mandatory fees.
5 If you send test scores, send a score report (official, on your transcript, or an unofficial report with your name and test date); UIC does not accept self-reported scores or superscores.

What are your chances?

Costs & financial aid

2026-27 · figures in USD

Illinois residents entering in 2026-27, base guaranteed tuition for two semesters (12+ credit hours); mandatory fees and major-specific tuition differentials are extra Tuition $11,652

Out-of-state (nonresident) base guaranteed tuition for two semesters; mandatory fees and major-specific differentials are extra Tuition $28,352

Financial aid

UIC Aspire covers tuition and mandatory fees for new Illinois undergraduates from households earning $75,000 or less, and nearly 55% of first-year students are assisted through it in 2026-27. Admitted students are automatically considered for most university and college scholarships; the President's Award Program, Honors College scholarships, Business Scholars and the UIC Merit Tuition Award (for high-achieving US nonresidents) are among the named awards. File the FAFSA for need-based grants.

$0 tuition and mandatory fees for Illinois families earning $75,000 or less; 6,970 students served in 2026-27
UIC Aspire: Nearly two-thirds
Undergraduates receiving grants or scholarships: Nearly $200 million
Financial aid and scholarships to undergraduates last year

Academics

Academic calendar: Semesters

Nursing (BSN)

Tied No. 9 nationally and No. 1 in Illinois in U.S. News 2027; admitted students' middle-50% GPA is 3.6-4.0 (test-optional) or 3.8-4.0 (with scores).

Engineering and Computer Science

Ranked among the nation's top 100 undergraduate programmes by U.S. News 2027; admitted test-submitters had SAT 1310-1470.

Honors College

Offers its own merit- and need-based scholarships, with a separate application and interview for incoming students.

Public Health

The School of Public Health brought in $37.8 million in research funding in FY2026, and its first-year enrollment rose about 46% in fall 2026.

Research

UIC research funding reached $498 million in FY2026, supporting 3,444 projects; NIH funding hit an all-time high of $207.9 million.
The College of Medicine led with $259.4 million in research funding in FY2026, followed by Liberal Arts and Sciences ($42.6 million) and Public Health ($37.8 million).
UIC's Office of Technology Management reported $5.45 million in proceeds from 357 active licenses in FY2026.

Schools & faculties

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
College of Engineering
College of Business Administration
College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts
College of Nursing
College of Applied Health Sciences
School of Public Health
College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs
College of Education
Honors College
College of Medicine
Retzky College of Pharmacy

Graduation rate

62%

First-year students who return

83%

College Scorecard: median earnings of $68,740 ten years after entry (and $53,218 six years after entry) for federally aided students.

Student life

UIC is a big-city campus on Chicago's Near West Side, with an East Campus of concrete modernist buildings and the health sciences colleges on the West Side. The student body is diverse, first-year enrollment of first-generation students grew in fall 2026, and UIC Aspire supports about 27% of undergraduates. The UIC Flames compete in NCAA Division I in the Missouri Valley Conference. Its campus was built in the 1960s on land that included the Hull House settlement and part of Little Italy.

UIC Flames athletics in NCAA Division I, Missouri Valley Conference.
Record fall 2026 enrollment of 37,199, including 5,420 first-year students.
Honors College with its own scholarships and interview-based admission.

Location

UIC sits in Chicago's Near West Side community area, served by the UIC-Halsted L station. Students have the city on their doorstep, from downtown internships to hospitals and neighbourhoods such as Little Italy.

Nearest airport: Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

Notable alumni

CM
Carol Moseley Braun

First African-American woman elected to the US Senate (BA 1969)
AS
Adrian Smith

Architect of the Burj Khalifa and Jin Mao Tower
LM
Leo Melamed

Chairman emeritus of CME Group
BS
Barbara Schaal

Evolutionary biologist (BS)
BR
Bobby Rush

Former US Representative for Illinois's 1st district
MG
Michael Gross

Actor (BA)
CG
Curtis Granderson

Three-time MLB All-Star

Frequently asked questions

What is UIC's acceptance rate?

For fall 2025, UIC admitted 22,674 of 29,929 first-year applicants, or about 76%. Nursing and engineering are more competitive than the university overall.

Is UIC test-optional?

Yes. SAT and ACT scores are optional, and about two-thirds of applicants apply without them. If you submit, UIC needs a score report rather than self-reported scores, and it does not superscore.

What are UIC's deadlines for fall 2027?

Early action is November 2, 2026, and regular decision is February 1, 2027. Your application must be complete, with all documents, by the deadline.

Can I go to UIC for free?

Illinois residents from families earning $75,000 or less can attend with $0 tuition and mandatory fees through UIC Aspire; nearly 55% of first-year students are assisted by it.

Where does UIC rank?

UIC is tied No. 95 among national universities and tied No. 43 among public universities in U.S. News 2027, No. 17 for social mobility, and joint 370th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.

Sources & methodology

Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.