Illinois · College profile

University of Illinois Chicago: SAT & ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate and Costs

University of Illinois Chicago is a public four-year university in Chicago, Illinois, enrolling about 22,170 undergraduates. It admits roughly 77% of applicants, which makes it largely open-access relative to four-year colleges nationally.

University of Illinois Chicago campus
Photo: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0

SAT and ACT scores at University of Illinois Chicago

MeasureScore
SAT 25th percentile1130
SAT 75th percentile1350
SAT midpoint (estimated)1240
ACT 25th percentile25
ACT 75th percentile31
ACT midpoint (estimated)28

A quarter of enrolled students scored below 1130 and a quarter scored above 1350. Treat 1350 as the target that makes your score a clear strength in this applicant pool, and 1130 as the point below which the rest of your application has to carry more weight.

The two ranges describe the same class, so submit whichever test places you higher in its own range — an ACT 31 and an SAT 1350 are read as equivalent here.

Admissions and selectivity

MeasureValue
Acceptance rate77.3%
Undergraduate enrollment22,170
Student–faculty ratio17:1
SettingCity
ControlPublic

Cost and financial aid

MeasureAmount
In-state tuition and fees$14,338
Out-of-state tuition and fees$29,884
Room and board$16,500
Average net price (first-year students)$10,974
Students receiving Pell grants48.9%
Students taking federal loans21.9%
Median federal loan debt at graduation$13,657

Net price is the number that matters: $10,974 is what a typical first-year student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the sticker price. Run the college's own net price calculator with your family's numbers before ruling it out on cost.

Graduation and earnings outcomes

MeasureValue
Graduation rate (6-year)61.6%
First-year retention80.2%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$68,740
Students who are first-generation44.4%

Most popular majors

Shares are of bachelor's degrees awarded, so a concentrated list usually signals a college known for those programs.

How your score compares

Take a free adaptive practice test on FunSAT, get an unofficial score estimate, and see exactly where you land inside University of Illinois Chicago's reported range alongside the rest of your college list.

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Frequently asked questions

What SAT score do you need for University of Illinois Chicago?

The middle 50% of enrolled students at University of Illinois Chicago scored between 1130 and 1350 on the SAT. A score at or above 1350 puts you in the top quarter of admitted students; below 1130 the rest of your application carries more weight.

What ACT score do you need for University of Illinois Chicago?

The middle 50% ACT range at University of Illinois Chicago is 25 to 31. Aim for 31 to make the score a clear strength.

What is the acceptance rate at University of Illinois Chicago?

University of Illinois Chicago admits about 77.3% of applicants according to the most recent U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data.

How much does University of Illinois Chicago cost?

Published tuition and fees are $14,338 in-state and $29,884 out-of-state, but the average first-year student pays a net price of $10,974 after grant aid.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution. May 2026 release (file published 2026-05-26). Score ranges and costs are reported by the institution to the U.S. Department of Education and can lag the current admissions cycle by a year or more.

FunSAT is a free browser-based SAT and ACT prep app: digital SAT and ACT practice tests, unofficial score calculators, a built-in graphing calculator, college admissions chances from official U.S. Department of Education data, and a scholarship search. Start free practice →