Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Illinois Chicago 1st for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 99th percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Illinois Chicago 1st for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 99th percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a student body in which nearly half of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and a substantial share are first-generation college students. Students at University of Illinois Chicago earn far more than similar students at other institutions, reflecting one of the strongest earnings advantages among nonprofit four-year institutions in the Azimuth coverage set. Graduates achieve median four-year earnings of $57,000, placing University of Illinois Chicago in the 95th percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, while the institution's mobility ranking underscores its commitment to broad access and upward economic progress.
Azimuth ranks University of Illinois Chicago #17 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Chicago, IL, University of Illinois Chicago enrolls roughly 22,170 undergraduates. Retention is 80.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 61.6%, figures that reflect solid degree completion relative to the institution's broad-access mission. The composite is driven by what University of Illinois Chicago does with its students. 48.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 44.4% are first-generation college students — among the highest shares at any large research university. Graduates earn about $21,086 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Illinois Chicago in the 96.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution moves its graduates into strong careers at rates that outpace comparable institutions, and Azimuth ranks University of Illinois Chicago in the 98.4 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business anchors the degree mix, but strength runs across business, engineering, health sciences, and computing fields. Access and affordability round out the profile. University of Illinois Chicago admits about 77.3% of applicants, maintaining a broad-access admissions posture that supports the large Pell and first-generation population. Azimuth places University of Illinois Chicago in the 95.1 percentile for access and the 90.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — positioning that reflects public-tuition pricing and need-based aid that meaningfully reduces cost for lower-income families. Return on investment sits in the 86.9 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, anchored by median earnings four years after enrollment of $72,839 and the strong earnings-beyond-expectations advantage.
University of Illinois Chicago prices predictably across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $7,529 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $10,921, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $25,047. Azimuth ranks University of Illinois Chicago #130 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That position reflects UIC's public-tuition structure and the breadth of its need-based aid reach across income levels. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for most students. University of Illinois Chicago offers student employment as part of its aid structure, per the financial aid page, alongside institutional scholarships available through the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships and Awards programs. These resources help close the gap between published costs and what families actually pay, particularly for lower- and middle-income households. Families seeking to understand the full sticker-versus-net-price contrast can explore how net price and published cost diverge across institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $16,704, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $24,323; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $72,839, median federal debt of $16,704 projects to a monthly payment of about $189 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Illinois Chicago is a strong fit for students drawn to business, engineering, health sciences, and applied professional fields who want a large public research university experience in Chicago, IL, with a proven track record of delivering earnings that outpace what similar students earn at comparable institutions. The earnings case is compelling. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $72,839, placing University of Illinois Chicago in the 73.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $21,086 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Illinois Chicago in the 96.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access and aid structure is especially strong for Pell-eligible and first-generation students. 48.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 44.4% are first-generation — among the highest shares at any large research university — and University of Illinois Chicago sits in the 86.6 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure, meaning the institution converts broad access into durable financial outcomes for this cohort. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 77.3% admit rate makes University of Illinois Chicago moderately selective rather than broadly open, and the program portfolio is concentrated in Business and adjacent applied fields — students whose interests align with those areas and who can manage median student debt of $16,704 will find the earnings trajectory and access-to-mobility story among the strongest available at a public institution.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of Illinois Chicago hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Illinois Chicago prices predictably across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $7,529 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $10,921, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $25,047.
Azimuth ranks University of Illinois Chicago #130 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That position reflects UIC's public-tuition structure and the breadth of its need-based aid reach across income levels.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for most students.
University of Illinois Chicago offers student employment as part of its aid structure, per the financial aid page, alongside institutional scholarships available through the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships and Awards programs. These resources help close the gap between published costs and what families actually pay, particularly for lower- and middle-income households.
Families seeking to understand the full sticker-versus-net-price contrast can explore how [net price and published cost diverge](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) across institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $16,704, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $24,323; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $72,839, median federal debt of $16,704 projects to a monthly payment of about $189 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of Illinois Chicago earn median earnings of $72,839 four years after enrollment, placing University of Illinois Chicago in the 73.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $21,086 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Illinois Chicago in the 96.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Illinois Chicago #195 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects a broad, applied program mix anchored by Business, which accounts for 15% of degrees, followed by Engineering at 12% and Social Sciences at 6%. Computer Science combines high enrollment with strong pay, making it a key contributor to the university's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Biology, General #110 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 426 graduates earning median earnings of $59,119 four years after enrollment. The Psychology, General program graduates 399 students with median earnings of $52,736, and Azimuth ranks it #103 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Computer Science ranks #43 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 328 graduates earning median earnings of $120,470 — at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field.
Computer Science
328 graduates
Computer Engineering
72 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
97 graduates
Chemical Engineering
65 graduates
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
84 graduates
University of Illinois Chicago's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 15% of degree output, followed by Engineering at 12% and Social Sciences at 6%. That balance of applied-business, health, and engineering fields shapes the institution's earnings profile and connects graduates to Chicago's diversified labor market.
Computer Science is the program combining the largest cohort scale with strong earnings — a combination that makes it a key driver of the university's overall financial outcomes. Across 58 programs serving roughly 5,236 students annually, 47 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold.
The largest programs by cohort reflect that applied orientation. The Biology, General program graduates 426 students annually with median earnings of $59,119 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #110 nationally [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The Psychology, General program graduates 399 students with median earnings of $52,736, while The Computer Science program graduates 328 students with median earnings of $120,470. On the earnings side, Computer Science leads at $120,470 with a cohort of 328, and Azimuth ranks it #43 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Mechanical Engineering follows at $87,384, and Nursing posts median earnings of $87,037 — both reflecting strong early-career demand in quantitative and technical fields. Several of these programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and four-year earnings reflect labor-market outcomes — particularly Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Biology, General.
Psychology, General and Nursing are more likely grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to professional or graduate school. The university's research infrastructure, which includes the Business Career Center and the Center for Applied Analytics per the department's research page, supports both direct-to-workforce and graduate-school-bound students.
The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how University of Illinois Chicago's dominant program families align with national wage trends.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Similar quality tier (#10 ranked) | CA | 75% | $71,902 | #10 | Compare |
California State University-Long Beach Similar quality tier (#12 ranked) | CA | 46% | $64,403 | #12 | Compare |
California State University-Los Angeles Similar quality tier (#9 ranked) | CA | 91% | $59,211 | #9 | Compare |
California State University-Fullerton Similar quality tier (#13 ranked) | CA | 91% | $62,951 | #13 | Compare |
University Of California-Davis Similar quality tier (#14 ranked) | CA | 42% | $80,838 | #14 | Compare |
