Quad

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, ILQuad's selectivityOpen
Known forTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale admits about 9 in 10 applicants (87%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 30% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

87%

87%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

10,858

Admitted

9,433

Yield

19%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

900–1160

8001600
ACT middle 50%

18–25

1236
Applications −0% since fall 2014 · admit rate 82% → 87%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 8,494 undergrads, where 39% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

8.5K

undergrads · larger than 87% of colleges

Diversity index

0.54

Pell Grant

39%

above the median

First generation

35%

above the median

Distant townNCAA D-I FCS · Missouri Valley ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
Steady · index 0.55 → 0.54 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Aviation/Airway Management and Operations (6% of graduates). 11 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 68% of colleges. 79% of faculty are full-time. Spends $18,042 a year on instruction per student.

11 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 68% of colleges

Most popular major

Aviation/Airway Management and Operations

6% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Fire Protection

$108.1K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

79%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$18K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $16,419 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $7.9K less than the national median. The 95% who received grants paid $13,473 on average; the other 5% paid the full sticker price of $29,409.

44%

$16.4K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $7.9K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$29,409 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 44% of full price

Federal loans

45%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −32% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $53,390 ten years after enrolling, more than at 49% of colleges; 57% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.2 years of that salary.

57%

57%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$53.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$21.5K

≈ $228/month for 10 years

Retention

67%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 44% → 62% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 16% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 32%, because grants grew faster. Applications held about steady since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 82% to 87%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −32% after inflation

  • Applications

    Steady

    0%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 82% → 87%

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.55 → 0.54

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

University of Central Arkansas

89% admit · SAT 1040 · 7.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Radford University

89% admit · SAT 1050 · 6.1K undergrads

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New Mexico State University-Main Campus

89% admit · SAT 990 · 11.9K undergrads

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Arkansas State University

82% admit · SAT 1080 · 9.1K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (2026)

    Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 149222 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything