University of Illinois Chicago Scholarships (2025–2026) | Costs, Aid & Hidden Gems

University of Illinois Chicago Scholarships (2025–2026)

← Back to the Public University Scholarships hub • See Illinois state aid

What This Page Covers:
  • Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
  • Automatic merit ranges and who typically qualifies
  • Competitive and hidden-gem scholarships worth a look
  • Honors perks and how to stack awards the smart way

📊 Admissions Snapshot

  • Acceptance Rate: ~77%
  • Middle 50% ACT: 25–31
  • Middle 50% SAT: 1140–1330
  • Average GPA (HS): Not reported (varies by college)

Source: UIC Office of Admissions & College Board BigFuture (latest profile). Middle 50% = the range where half of enrolling students fall.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌

UIC at a Glance

🏆 High-impact aid: UIC Aspire covers tuition & mandatory fees for eligible new Illinois residents (family income/assets ≤ $75,000) when combined with other grants.
Average Net Price
$11,499
What families actually paid on average
Automatic Merit
Admission-based + competitive (AIM High, departmental)
Reviewed at admission; additional donor/department awards
Typical Qualifiers
Strong GPA • rigorous courses • test-optional
Ranges vary by UIC college/major
Superscore Policy
Test-optional • ACT/SAT considered if submitted
Scores not required for admission
Key Deadlines
EA: Nov 3, 2025 • RD: Feb 2, 2026 • FAFSA priority: Mar 15
Application fee: $60 • Apply early for scholarships
Honors College
Honors College • Competitive • Separate app
Perks: priority reg, small seminars, research
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Automatic: UIC Aspire (in-state tuition & fees) • Competitive: Select
Additional large awards via AIM High & colleges
Residency & Waivers
MSEP/reciprocity: Not available
Illinois is inactive in MSEP; nonresidents pay standard rates
* Scholarship GPA/test bands are approximate, based on award text + past recipient data + published student profile statistics. Numbers can shift with applicant pool and funding.

UIC Scholarship FAQ

Does UIC offer full-tuition scholarships? Yes. The UIC Aspire program covers full in-state tuition and fees for eligible Illinois residents when combined with other grants.

Is UIC test-optional? Yes. Students can apply without ACT/SAT scores, though strong results may still help for competitive awards.

When should families apply for maximum aid? Apply by the Early Action deadline (Nov 3, 2025) and submit the FAFSA by March 15 for priority funding.

Sources:
https://admissions.uic.edu/undergraduate/requirements-deadlines
https://admissions.uic.edu/undergraduate/requirements-deadlines/first-year-requirements
https://admissions.uic.edu/undergraduate/requirements-deadlines/deadlines
https://financialaid.uic.edu/aid-process/apply/
https://free.uic.edu/
https://admissions.uic.edu/chancellors-fellows-aim-high-award
https://www.ibhe.org/MSEP_Statement.html
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/university-of-illinois-at-chicago/admissions
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/university-of-illinois-at-chicago/tuition-and-costs

💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Illinois Chicago (2025–2026)

On-campus, full-time undergraduates (9-month budget). Figures below reflect typical direct costs billed by UIC for 2025–2026.

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition & Mandatory Fees $16,830 $33,710
Housing & Meals (average) $13,244 $13,244
Estimated Total (Direct Costs) $30,074 $46,954

Other estimated expenses (books, transportation, and personal costs) typically add about $3,800–$4,400 per year but vary widely by student. These are excluded from the table since they aren’t billed directly by the university.

Average Federal Net Price (UIC): $11,499 (most recent federal data). That’s what families actually paid on average after grants and scholarships — no loans included.
Regional Reciprocity & Waivers:
  • No MSEP or reciprocity discounts: Illinois does not currently participate in the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP).
  • In-state tuition eligibility: Applies to permanent Illinois residents or those qualifying under state residency policies (e.g., eligible undocumented students via Illinois Alternative Application).

Cost & Aid FAQs

Does UIC offer tuition-free programs?
Yes. The UIC Aspire program covers full in-state tuition and mandatory fees for eligible Illinois residents with family income and assets under $75,000.

How can out-of-state students lower costs?
While Illinois doesn’t offer reciprocity, UIC provides merit-based scholarships such as AIM High and Chancellor’s Fellows that can significantly reduce the nonresident tuition rate.

When should families apply for the best financial aid package?
Submit applications by the Early Action deadline (Nov 3, 2025) and file the FAFSA by March 15, 2026 for maximum aid and scholarship consideration.

Sources:
https://admissions.uic.edu/undergraduate/requirements-deadlines
https://financialaid.uic.edu/aid-process/apply/
https://financialaid.uic.edu/cost/
https://free.uic.edu/
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/university-of-illinois-at-chicago/tuition-and-costs
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?145600-University-of-Illinois-Chicago

✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships

Note for parents: UIC does offer automatic scholarships, but they’re not tied to a public GPA/test score grid like some flagships. Awards are triggered by residency, academic performance, and FAFSA status. Test scores are optional, and if submitted, UIC does superscore.

UIC automatically considers students for several scholarships at the time of admission. These awards are tied to residency, GPA, test scores (if submitted), and in some cases financial need.

Scholarship Award Amount Eligibility Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins? Deadline
Chancellor’s Fellows Award ~$7,500/year (freshmen); ~$5,000 (transfers) Illinois residents; strong academics, demonstrated need; FAFSA required No Reviewed annually Illinois admits (~3.5–3.8 GPA*) with FAFSA; essays not required (*estimate) Rolling (admission/FAFSA)
President’s Award Program $5,000/year; some tiers full tuition + housing Illinois residents; outstanding academic achievement No Yes (renewable with GPA) Top admits (~3.7+ GPA*, honors/AP, leadership); test scores optional (*estimate) Rolling (admission/FAFSA)
Merit Tuition Award (Non-Resident) $9,128/year (2025–26) Out-of-state admits; strong academic record No Not clearly stated Competitive nonresident admits (~3.5+ GPA*, test scores optional, superscored if submitted) Rolling (admission)
Lake County, IN Tuition Award Pays difference to in-state tuition Lake County, Indiana residents; admitted to UIC No Yes (if eligible) Lake County, IN admits; automatic with enrollment Rolling (admission)
Tribal Nation Tuition Award Covers nonresident tuition (≈$16k+) Federally recognized Tribal Nation members No Yes (while eligible) Native American students verified as Tribal Nation members Rolling (FAFSA/admissions)

Note: GPA/test cutoffs are not always published; estimated ranges reflect admitted UIC patterns and university guidance. Renewal generally requires full-time enrollment and satisfactory progress.

Automatic Scholarship FAQs

Do I need a separate application?
No. These awards are triggered by your admission file, residency, and FAFSA (if relevant).

Does UIC superscore ACT/SAT?
Yes, if scores are submitted. Scholarships are still open to test-optional applicants.

Can tuition awards stack with Illinois Aspire?
Normally no—nonresident and differential tuition awards replace the tuition component. Aspire covers in-state tuition only.

Sources:
https://admissions.uic.edu/undergraduate/tuition/scholarships
https://financialaid.uic.edu/types-of-aid/scholarships/
https://admissions.uic.edu/undergraduate/first-year-applicants
https://admissions.uic.edu/undergraduate/transfer-applicants
https://uic.edu/about/lake-county-tuition-award
https://uic.edu/about/tribal-nation-tuition-award

🏆 Competitive Scholarships

Note for families: UIC does not publish a slate of university-wide “competitive” full-ride scholarships. The main selective program is the President’s Award Program – Honors (PAP-H), which is part of the Honors College and will be covered in the Honors section below. Other funding at UIC is either automatic (triggered by admission/FAFSA) or donor/departmental (covered in Hidden Gems).

In short: UIC’s big money scholarships are either automatic (Chancellor’s, President’s, tuition replacement) or Honors-linked. Families shouldn’t expect a separate pool of highly selective, university-wide competitive awards like at some flagships.

Sources:
https://admissions.uic.edu/undergraduate/tuition/scholarships
https://financialaid.uic.edu/types-of-aid/scholarships/
https://honors.uic.edu/admissions/first-year-honors-college-applicants/

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

At UIC, a lot of “extra” money lives outside the headline merit list: state programs, tuition waivers, donor/department funds (via SnAP), ROTC, study abroad, and research stipends. These often stack with federal aid and can quietly shave thousands off the bill.

Scholarship / Program Award Amount Eligibility Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins? Deadline
UIC Aspire (IL tuition guarantee) Covers in-state tuition & fees IL residents; family income ≤ $75K; FAFSA/IL Alt App; full-time No (via financial aid file) Yes (re-qualify yearly) IL families who file early and meet need; stacks with Pell/MAP for tuition Dec 1 FAFSA/IL Alt preferred; March 1 final
MAP Grant (Monetary Award Program) Varies; often several thousand IL residents; demonstrated need; FAFSA/IL Alt by priority No (via aid filing) Yes (need-based) Early filers with financial eligibility; combines with federal/state aid ASAP after Oct 1 (funds limited)
IL ROTC Tuition Waivers Up to full in-state tuition/fees + stipends ROTC cadets; fitness/academic standards; some waivers w/o service Yes — ROTC board/unit Yes (standards/GPA) Students committed to ROTC/commissioning; early outreach helps November–March (varies by branch)
SnAP — College/Dept Scholarships $500–$3,000 (typical; some higher) Admitted/current students; donor/department criteria Yes — SnAP + brief apps/essays Varies (per fund) Early, complete applications in SnAP; targeted by major/criteria Jan–March (main cycles)
Identity/Support Awards (LARES, TRIO, DEI, VETS) $500–$2,000 (typical) First-gen, Latinx, Black, DACA, Vets, Women in STEM, etc. SnAP or program app Varies Active participants with good essays/short answers Varies (Jan–Mar best odds)
Study Abroad Scholarships $500–$2,000 (per trip/term) Approved program, good progress, short essays Study Abroad Office deadlines No (reapply each term) Early and motivated applicants with good faculty recs Fall: May–July; Spring: Oct–Dec
UG Research Mini-Grants (OUR, LAS, colleges) $500–$2,000 (project or supplies) Continuing with mentor and approved project OUR/college app No (project-based) Students with realistic projects and mentor support Sept–Oct and Jan–Feb (cycles)
Ensemble & Pep Band Awards $300–$1,500/year Audition/placement, full participation, GPA min Dept or ensemble audition Often (with ongoing service) Major or non-major, ensemble needs + participation Summer auditions (annually)

Stacking notes: Most “hidden gem” awards stack with Pell/MAP up to full Cost of Attendance. Tuition-replacement programs (Aspire, some ROTC waivers) can affect stacking room for other tuition awards; always check your award notice.

Hidden Gems FAQs

Do I need FAFSA or the Illinois Alt App? Yes, for most need‑based funds (Aspire, MAP, most donor awards); file early each year for best eligibility.

Where do I find donor/departmental awards? Build a profile in SnAP Scholarship Portal and check college/department websites for extras.

Can these stack with automatic merit? Usually yes, to Cost of Attendance. Tuition-guarantee programs (Aspire, some ROTC waivers) may limit how much other tuition aid you can keep.

Are music/ensemble awards only for music majors? No—awards are open to non-majors who contribute to department needs and stay in good standing.

Sources:
https://snap.uic.edu/
https://financialaid.uic.edu/types-of-aid/scholarships/
https://oua.uic.edu/about/rotc/
https://studyabroad.uic.edu/scholarships/
https://music.uic.edu/ensemble-performance/
https://latinx.uic.edu/scholarships/
https://our.uic.edu/funding/
https://studentsupport.uic.edu/resources/first-generation/
https://honors.uic.edu/scholarships/

🎖 Honors College

UIC’s Honors College gives a large urban research university a smaller, more personal feel. It’s built for motivated students who want access to faculty mentors, small seminars, and unique scholarships layered on top of regular financial aid. For first-gen families, this can be a major opportunity to combine academic support with extra funding.

What a Typical UIC Honors Student Looks Like:
High school GPA of 3.7+*, strong AP/IB/honors coursework, essays that show curiosity and community, and notable leadership/service track record. Test scores are optional, but superscoring applies if submitted.
*UIC does not publish minimum GPA/test requirements; this range is based on recent admits.

Perks That Matter:

  • Priority registration each term
  • Honors housing & living-learning communities
  • Dedicated undergraduate research and faculty support
  • Small, hands-on Honors seminars
  • Eligibility for Honors-exclusive scholarships
Honors-Specific Scholarship Award Amount Eligibility Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins? Deadline
President’s Award Program – Honors (PAP-H) Full tuition + fees + partial housing IL residents admitted to Honors with top academics & leadership Yes — Honors app (Nov 1 priority) Yes — maintain GPA/credit load/Honors Top IL admits, 3.8+ GPA*, high rigor, leadership, and strong essays
*estimate only		 Nov 1 priority deadline (Honors app); rolling after
Important to know:
PAP-H is highly selective, awarded to a small number of entering Honors students each year. Exact GPA/test cutoffs and award numbers change annually based on pool size and funding. Students who apply by Nov 1 have the best chance.

Honors College FAQs

Is Honors admission automatic for high achievers?
No. Separate Honors application, with essays and activities/resume, is required (by Nov 1 for priority).

Does Honors guarantee scholarships?
No, but many Honors students earn PAP-H or internal donor awards each year.

Does Honors add time to your degree?
No; Honors requirements are designed to fit with any major.

Can you get in test optional?
Yes, test-optional students are considered, but strong essays and GPA matter most.

Sources:
https://honors.uic.edu/admissions/first-year-honors-college-applicants/
https://honors.uic.edu/scholarships/
https://financialaid.uic.edu/types-of-aid/scholarships/
https://admissions.uic.edu/undergraduate/tuition/scholarships
https://snap.uic.edu/

⭐ College Specialty

UIC is an R1 research powerhouse nestled in Chicago—meaning it combines big-city opportunity with very high research activity. Families can expect nationally respected programs across health, planning, and social policy that translate into internships, public service pipelines, and graduate school wins.

Flagship Program:
Urban Policy (College of Urban Planning & Public Affairs) — Ranked 6th in the nation by U.S. News for Urban Policy programs.
  • **Occupational Therapy (Applied Health Sciences)** — Ranked 3rd nationwide.
  • **Doctor of Nursing Practice & Master’s in Nursing (College of Nursing)** — Both tied for 17th in the U.S. in 2025 rankings; highest in Illinois.
  • **Online Health Programs (e.g., RN to BSN, Health Info Management)** — Ranked #3 nationally in their categories.
  • **Pharmacy (Retzky College of Pharmacy)** — Ranked 15th best among U.S. pharmacy schools.

✨ Final Thoughts

UIC may not publish a flashy merit grid like some flagships, but between Aspire, automatic resident and nonresident awards, departmental funds, and the Honors College, families have more ways to bring the cost down than the sticker price suggests. For first-gen and Illinois families in particular, UIC’s mix of state grants, tuition guarantees, and Chicago-based opportunities makes it a strong value play. With planning — FAFSA on file early, SnAP completed, and an eye toward Honors — students can unlock a package that makes an R1 research university in the middle of a global city surprisingly affordable.

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