Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
U. Illinois Chicago admits about 8 in 10 applicants (76%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 53% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$60 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 74%, women at 80%.
Yield
24% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
No wait list
Applying early
Early action (not binding): apply by Nov 1; decisions by Dec 1
Where you stand
How U. Illinois Chicago reads a record
, GPA, and class rank are all very important; tests are considered. 25% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher. Scores are optional. 30% of first-years sent an SAT and 4% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Of the 36% whose high school reported a rank, 23% were in the top tenth. Recommends 4 years of English and 3 of social studies. See the years by subject
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Very important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Important | ||||
| Recommendations | Considered | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Not considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Considered | ||||
| Talent or ability | Considered | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Not considered | ||||
| First generation | Not considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Not considered | ||||
| State residency | Not considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Not considered | ||||
| Work experience | Not considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Not considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
55% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 76% of first-year applicants
7,109 applied · 3,923 admitted · 2,450 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall, spring, and summer.
At least 24 c completed to apply as a transfer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.5
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: apply by April 1
- Spring entry: apply by October 17
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Recommended for some
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Recommended for some
- Standardized test scores
- Recommended for some
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Not required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by February 15 for fall 2026.
- Priority date: November 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent on a rolling basis.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within a set number of weeks if admitted later.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | – | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 4 |
| Science | 3 | 3 |
| Foreign language | – | 2 |
| Social studies | – | 3 |
| Total | 6* | 16 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science. *Added up from the subjects listed; the college didn't give a total.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.45
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.04%
- 3.75–3.9921%
- 3.50–3.7424%
- 3.25–3.4922%
- 3.00–3.2418%
- below 3.011%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.00–3.74.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 3.8% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 21.0% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 23.7% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 22.1% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 18.5% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 10.7% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.2% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
23% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 52% in the top quarter, of the 36% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:University of Illinois Chicago Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1240 on the SAT, 70 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
16% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
46% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
19% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
22% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
Shares of the 47% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 4% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
226 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:University of Illinois Chicago (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;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, 2025–26;University of Illinois Chicago Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)