University of Missouri-Columbia vs University of Illinois Chicago

University of Missouri-Columbia and University of Illinois Chicago are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: University of Missouri-Columbia is more selective with a 77.0% acceptance rate compared to University of Illinois Chicago's 78.5%. Average SAT scores are 1247 and 1242 respectively.

Cost: University of Illinois Chicago offers a lower average net price at $12,313, which is $7,576 less than University of Missouri-Columbia ($19,889). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median salary of $68,740 ten years after enrollment, which is $5,337 more than University of Missouri-Columbia graduates ($63,403).

Graduation: University of Missouri-Columbia leads with a 75.7% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 91.3% vs 78.4%.

Campus Size: University of Missouri-Columbia is the larger campus with 23,118 total students, while University of Illinois Chicago has 21,814.

Bottom Line: University of Illinois Chicago stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.