University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Illinois Chicago at a Glance
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is a public research university in the Near West Side community area of Chicago, Illinois, United States.
1913
113 years old
$528M
$527.9 million (2025)
35,869
24,260 undergrad · 11,609 grad
2,961
244 acres
Identity
Is University of Illinois Chicago Worth It?
University of Illinois Chicago is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $10,974/year net price and $68,740 median earnings, graduates earn 6.3× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 61% graduation rate means roughly 39% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: University of Illinois Chicago delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of Illinois Chicago compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #4 of 37 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 100 | $11,531 | $71,902 |
| #2 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #3 | San Jose State University | 96 | $13,760 | $78,988 |
| #4 | University of Illinois Chicago | 95 | $10,974 | $68,740 |
| #5 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #6 | University of California-Riverside | 90 | $14,304 | $67,699 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Illinois Chicago's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in IL.
Best Programs at University of Illinois Chicago
The highest-earning program at University of Illinois Chicago is Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at $67,200/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $18,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduate from University of Illinois Chicago earns $67,200, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $18,000. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates carry $19,250 in median debt vs. $20,500 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $10,974/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $67,200 | $67,200 | $19,250 |
| Computer Science | $64,600 | $64,600 | $20,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $63,700 | $63,700 | $15,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $62,100 | $62,100 | $19,000 |
| Computer Engineering | $61,200 | $61,200 | $20,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $59,600 | $59,600 | $21,500 |
| Chemical Engineering | $59,300 | $59,300 | $21,500 |
| Industrial Engineering | $56,500 | $56,500 | $22,500 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $51,900 | $51,900 | $20,079 |
| Information Science/Studies | $49,600 | $49,600 | $17,750 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $48,800 | $48,800 | $17,571 |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | $48,000 | $48,000 | $20,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $47,300 | $47,300 | $17,250 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $43,000 | $43,000 | $19,008 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $41,400 | $41,400 | $18,185 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $40,600 | $40,600 | $19,347 |
| Economics | $39,300 | $39,300 | $17,761 |
| Marketing | $38,800 | $38,800 | $16,600 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $37,400 | $37,400 | $16,000 |
| Architecture | $36,400 | $36,400 | $19,500 |
| Public Health | $36,100 | $36,100 | $20,250 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $34,800 | $34,800 | $18,750 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $34,800 | $34,800 | $18,875 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $32,600 | $32,600 | $17,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $31,900 | $31,900 | $17,028 |
| Chemistry | $30,500 | $30,500 | $21,250 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $30,200 | $30,200 | $16,793 |
| Mathematics | $29,500 | $29,500 | $15,000 |
| Sociology | $29,500 | $29,500 | $14,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $29,100 | $29,100 | $18,062 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $28,900 | $28,900 | $16,000 |
| Psychology, General | $28,800 | $28,800 | $19,000 |
| Area Studies | $28,700 | $28,700 | $10,750 |
| Biology, General | $27,400 | $27,400 | $18,500 |
| History | $27,100 | $27,100 | $19,908 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $26,600 | $26,600 | $18,500 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $25,100 | $25,100 | $27,000 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $23,600 | $23,600 | $23,150 |
| Anthropology | $23,200 | $23,200 | $16,950 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,000 | $22,000 | $23,500 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $18,000 | $18,000 | $20,500 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Chicago, IL
- Student Body
- 22,170 students
- Admission Rate
- 77%
- Graduation Rate
- 61%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $10,974
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $68,740
- Median Student Debt
- $16,704