Quad

Head-to-head

U. Illinois Chicago
Rutgers University-Newark

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    U. Illinois Chicago's yield is 17 pts higher than Rutgers University-Newark's

    Yield rate
  2. 2

    U. Illinois Chicago has 2.9× as many undergrads as Rutgers University-Newark

    Undergrads
  3. 3

    Rutgers University-Newark has 10 pts more Pell recipients than U. Illinois Chicago (59% vs. 49%)

    Pell Grant recipients
  4. 4

    U. Illinois Chicago has 10 pts more first-gen students than Rutgers University-Newark (44% vs. 35%)

    First-generation students
  5. 5

    Rutgers University-Newark grads earn $5.7K more ten years out than U. Illinois Chicago's ($74,479 vs. $68,740)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  6. 6

    Rutgers University-Newark graduates 1 pts more of its students than U. Illinois Chicago (71% vs. 70%)

    Graduation rate

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

Rutgers University-Newark admits 71%, U. Illinois Chicago 76%; U. Illinois Chicago's yield is higher, at 24%.

Acceptance rate
U. Illinois Chicago76%
Rutgers University-Newark71%
Quad's selectivity
  • U. Illinois ChicagoSelective
  • Rutgers University-NewarkSelective
SAT middle 50%Axis 1000–1600
U. Illinois Chicago
1130–1350
Rutgers University-NewarkTest-blind
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • U. Illinois ChicagoRigor, GPA, and rank very important25%
  • Rutgers University-NewarkGPA, school record, and prep program required

Who's on each campus

U. Illinois Chicago has 2.9× as many undergrads as Rutgers University-Newark; Rutgers University-Newark has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
U. Illinois Chicago22.2K
Rutgers University-Newark7.7K
Pell Grant share
U. Illinois Chicago49%
Rutgers University-Newark59%

Majors and faculty

Computer Science leads at U. Illinois Chicago, and Psychology at Rutgers University-Newark.

Students per faculty member
U. Illinois Chicago17 to 1
Rutgers University-Newark14 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • U. Illinois ChicagoComputer Science8%
  • Rutgers University-NewarkPsychology, General12%

What each costs

U. Illinois Chicago and Rutgers University-Newark cost about the same a year on average; grants cover the same share of the price at both, 33%.

Average cost, all students
U. Illinois Chicago$25.5K
Rutgers University-Newark$25.6K
Aid generosity
U. Illinois Chicago33%
Rutgers University-Newark33%

What each pays off

Rutgers University-Newark's former students earn more, a median $74.5K ten years after enrolling; both graduate at least 70% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
U. Illinois Chicago$68.7K
Rutgers University-Newark$74.5K
Graduation rate
U. Illinois Chicago70%
Rutgers University-Newark71%

How each has changed

Applications grew at both; Rutgers University-Newark got less selective while U. Illinois Chicago held steady.

Applications, 10-year change
  • U. Illinois ChicagoGrowing+74%
  • Rutgers University-NewarkGrowing+256%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:University of Illinois Chicago (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;University of Illinois Chicago Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;University of Illinois Chicago Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;University of Illinois Chicago Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why