University of Illinois at Chicago: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

The University of Illinois at Chicago is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 73%. UIC is the largest university in the Chicago area by enrollment. The school has 16 colleges and offers 86 undergraduate degree programs.

Considering applying to UIC? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, the University of Illinois at Chicago had an acceptance rate of 73%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 73 students were admitted, making UIC's admissions process somewhat competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

The University of Illinois at Chicago requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 81% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of UIC's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to the University of Illinois at Chicago scored between 510 and 620, while 25% scored below 510 and 25% scored above 620. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 520 and 640, while 25% scored below 520 and 25% scored above 640. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1260 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Note that these scores vary for the different schools and colleges at UIC. The School of Engineering is the most selective with the middle 50% of students scoring between 1210 and 1400 on the SAT.

Requirements

UIC does not require the optional SAT writing exam or SAT Subject tests. Note that University of Illinois at Chicago participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates.

ACT Scores and Requirements

UIC requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 28% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of University of Illinois at Chicago's admitted students fall within the top 42% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to UIC received a composite ACT score between 21 and 28, while 25% scored above 28 and 25% scored below 21. Note that some programs at UIC are more selective. The College of Engineering is particularly selective with the middle 50% of students scoring between 25 and 31 on the ACT.

Requirements

The University of Illinois at Chicago does not require the optional ACT essay, and scores on the essay will not be used for admission purposes. UIC does not provide information about the school's superscore policy.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA of the University of Illinois at Chicago's incoming freshmen class was 3.38, and over 39% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.5 and above. This data suggests that most successful applicants to the University of Illinois at Chicago have primarily B grades. Note that students accepted to the College of Engineering tend to have GPAs between 3.4 and 3.8, the equivalent of an A/B+ average.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to the University of Illinois at Chicago. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

The University of Illinois at Chicago, which accepts fewer than three-quarters of applicants, has somewhat selective admissions. If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA fall within the school's average ranges, you have a strong chance of being accepted. Keep in mind, however, that UIC has a holistic admissions process that involves other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay and glowing optional letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule, Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and test scores are outside of UIC's average range.

In the scattergram above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students, and most had a high school average of B or higher, an ACT composite score of 19 or higher, and a combined SAT score (ERW+M) of above about 1000. Higher numbers increase your chances at UIC significantly.

If You Like UIC, You May Also Like These Schools

• University of Chicago
• Illinois State University
• University of Wisconsin - Madison
• Michigan State University
• Northwestern University
• Loyola University Chicago
• Marquette University

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of Illinois at Chicago Undergraduate Admissions Office.