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Programs & majors brief

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# University of Illinois Chicago Majors & Programs

Updated September 30, 2026

[Overview](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/)[Cost & aid](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/admissions/)Majors[Similar schools](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/similar/)

**On this page**+

## Which majors earn the most at UIC?

Among University of Illinois Chicago programs with a reported four-year earnings value, the highest medians are: Computer Science ($120,470); Computer Engineering ($102,691); Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($92,002); Chemical Engineering ($87,407); Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($87,393). These are earnings after completion for the covered cohort.

A program median describes the middle reported outcome in that group. It is not a starting-salary offer or a prediction for every graduate, and an earnings comparison does not by itself explain why fields differ.

Compare these results with the subjects you want to study and the program’s reported award count. Awards measure degree output, not the number of people in the earnings sample.

University of Illinois Chicago's largest programs span a wide earnings range. Computer Science leads with a median of $120,470 four years after completion, alongside 328 degrees awarded and an Azimuth national rank of #55 in its field.

Nursing follows at $87,037, with 296 degrees awarded and a state-leading rank of #1 in Illinois. Further down the earnings scale, Biology and Psychology — the university's two largest fields by degrees awarded — report medians of $59,119 and $52,736, respectively.

Biology awarded 426 degrees and ranks #104 nationally, while Psychology awarded 399 degrees and ranks #102. The contrast between these moderate-earning fields and the higher-earning technical programs reflects the breadth of UIC's undergraduate offerings.

### Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions

Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity.

-   Business**800 · 15.3%**
-   Health professions**673 · 12.9%**
-   Engineering**625 · 11.9%**
-   Biological sciences**595 · 11.4%**
-   Computer science**474 · 9.1%**
-   Other**2,069 · 39.5%**

Find a field

Sort programsLargest programsHighest four-year earningsBest national field rankProgram name

58 of 58 programs shown

Four-year earnings · first six matching programs

**Computer Science 328 degrees awarded**
$120,470

**Computer Engineering 72 degrees awarded**
$102,691

**Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering 97 degrees awarded**
$92,002

**Chemical Engineering 65 degrees awarded**
$87,407

**Biomedical/Medical Engineering 84 degrees awarded**
$87,393

**Mechanical Engineering 168 degrees awarded**
$87,384

Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.

Compare all matching programs

Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks

| Program | Degrees awarded | 4-yr earnings | Field rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Computer Science | 328 | $120,470 | #55 |
| Computer Engineering | 72 | $102,691 | #71 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 97 | $92,002 | #136 |
| Chemical Engineering | 65 | $87,407 | #117 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 84 | $87,393 | #71 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 168 | $87,384 | #158 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 296 | $87,037 | #131 |
| Industrial Engineering | 31 | $86,202 | #66 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 153 | $86,088 | #65 |
| Civil Engineering | 108 | $83,680 | #103 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 274 | $83,218 | #59 |
| Information Science/Studies | 146 | $81,180 | #23 |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | 62 | $77,321 | #4 |
| Marketing | 163 | $71,293 | #75 |
| Statistics | 24 | $68,585 | #40 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 67 | $68,109 | #221 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 105 | $67,555 | #51 |
| Mathematics | 27 | $67,016 | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 47 | $66,694 | #27 |
| Chemistry | 24 | $64,442 | #93 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 49 | $64,100 | #6 |
| Economics | 108 | $63,429 | #163 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 76 | $63,233 | #12 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences small degree count | 19 | $61,206 | — |
| Political Science and Government | 99 | $60,020 | #153 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 223 | $59,295 | #30 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 79 | $59,188 | #45 |
| Biology, General | 426 | $59,119 | #104 |
| Public Health | 45 | $58,603 | #65 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 66 | $58,268 | #66 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics small degree count | 19 | $57,594 | — |
| Architecture | 56 | $56,975 | #46 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 103 | $56,869 | #32 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 128 | $56,845 | #108 |
| History | 24 | $55,326 | #119 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 122 | $55,247 | #90 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 71 | $54,584 | #13 |
| Sociology | 77 | $53,962 | #96 |
| Psychology, General | 399 | $52,736 | #102 |
| Anthropology | 29 | $51,907 | #39 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 164 | $50,429 | #51 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 53 | $50,123 | #42 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 50 | $49,393 | — |
| English Language and Literature, General | 73 | $48,442 | #145 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 47 | $45,253 | #56 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 34 | $41,924 | #141 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 34 | $36,792 | #96 |
| Area Studies small degree count | 13 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 21 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Philosophy small degree count | 10 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Physics small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 66 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | 35 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Music small degree count | 12 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General small degree count | 11 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 25 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations small degree count | 13 | Too few graduates to report | — |

[Program data and definitions](#page-sources) · [How to evaluate program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## What are UIC’s largest fields of study?

Bachelor’s degrees by field · 2024–25

**Business/marketing**
17.7%

**Health professions**
14.6%

**Computer and information sciences**
11.9%

**Biological/life sciences**
10.1%

**Engineering**
9.7%

**Psychology**
8.9%

[\[1\] Source and notes](#cds-note-degree-mix)

Business and marketing account for 17.74% of UIC’s reported bachelor’s degree distribution, followed by health professions at 14.56%. Computing accounts for 11.94%, biological and life sciences 10.13%, engineering 9.69% and psychology 8.86%.

These broad categories show a mix of business, health, technical and other fields rather than one dominant subject.

The CDS distribution covers degrees awarded from July 2024 through June 2025. It groups majors more broadly than the program explorer and uses a different reporting period.

Use it to understand the overall mix of fields, then return to the specific program records for earnings and degree counts; the category shares do not establish the outcomes of every program within them.

[College Scorecard data and documentation](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)

[UIC Common Data Set degree distribution](https://oir.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2026/06/CDS_Final_2025_26.pdf#page=41)

## What are the largest programs at UIC?

Ten largest programs by degrees awarded

**Biology, General**
426

**Psychology, General**
399

**Computer Science**
328

**Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing**
296

**Finance and Financial Management Services**
274

**Criminal Justice and Corrections**
223

**Mechanical Engineering**
168

**Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General**
164

**Marketing**
163

**Accounting and Related Services**
153

Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. [Program data and definitions](#page-sources)

The largest program records at University of Illinois Chicago, by reported degrees awarded, are: Biology, General (426 awards); Psychology, General (399 awards); Computer Science (328 awards); Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (296 awards); Finance and Financial Management Services (274 awards). These counts describe degree output in the source reporting period, not current enrollment or unique people.

Among those larger programs, reported median earnings four years after completion include Biology, General at $59,119; Psychology, General at $52,736; Computer Science at $120,470. Program size and earnings answer different questions; the largest program need not have the highest earnings.

## How do UIC majors rank nationally?

University of Illinois Chicago’s national program ranks compare each field with the same field at other institutions in Azimuth’s ranking data. For example, a Computer Science rank compares programs in Computer Science, while a Biology rank compares programs in Biology.

A lower rank number indicates a higher position within that field; comparing the numbers across different fields does not tell you which major will pay more or suit you better.

These are Azimuth program-value rankings. The source orders programs by its composite program-value measure, so this view answers a different question from the highest-earning majors section.

A field can report lower earnings than another University of Illinois Chicago field while holding a stronger position against its own national competitors. Read its national position alongside the earnings and degree counts to understand both the comparison with other schools and the scale of the program at University of Illinois Chicago.

### National program rankings

1.  Mathematics and Computer Science**#4**
2.  Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods**#6**
3.  Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas**#12**
4.  Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions**#13**
5.  Information Science/Studies**#23**
6.  Health and Medical Administrative Services**#27**
7.  Criminal Justice and Corrections**#30**
8.  Neurobiology and Neurosciences**#32**
9.  Anthropology**#39**
10.  Statistics**#40**
11.  Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services**#42**
12.  Design and Applied Arts**#45**
13.  Architecture**#46**

Programs ranked in the national top 50, supplemented by the largest ranked programs when needed to show ten. Fewer appear when fewer ranks are reported. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ.

The list includes University of Illinois Chicago programs ranked in the national top 50 for their field. If fewer than ten qualify, it adds the largest remaining programs with a reported national rank, using degrees awarded to select them, until the list reaches ten or no ranked programs remain.

These additions broaden the comparison to larger University of Illinois Chicago programs; they are not necessarily ranked in the national top 50.

[How Azimuth compares programs across colleges](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## Data & methodology

This brief combines [U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/) data with UIC’s [2025–26 Common Data Set](https://oir.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2026/06/CDS_Final_2025_26.pdf), checked September 10, 2026. The CDS is an official, institution-reported source, but it can contain errors. We retain reported values and flag identified inconsistencies rather than silently correcting them. [Explore the complete UIC CDS guide](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/common-data-set/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).

Four-year earnings are measured after completion for the covered federally aided cohort of people working and not enrolled. Measures taken six, eight or ten years after entry use a different starting point and should not be treated as one graduating class followed over time.

Program award counts describe credentials awarded, not current enrollment, unique graduates or earnings-sample size. Reporting periods differ across measures; the shared field definitions do not establish the exact vintage of every school-level value.

**[\[1\]](#cds-ref-degree-mix) What are UIC’s largest fields of study?** July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025. Selected largest categories in the CDS bachelor’s degree distribution; based on majors rather than unique student headcounts. These broad categories describe degree distribution, not program earnings or current enrollment. Students with multiple majors may be represented more than once. UIC does not specify whether it used first majors only or first and second majors. Selected categories do not sum to 100%.

[CDS J, p. 42](https://oir.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2026/06/CDS_Final_2025_26.pdf#page=42); [CDS J, p. 41](https://oir.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2026/06/CDS_Final_2025_26.pdf#page=41). [Return to figure](#cds-ref-degree-mix)