Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIU) vs Elmhurst University

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIU-C) and Elmhurst University stand as distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique opportunities and experiences to their students. SIU-C, a public research university, boasts a sprawling campus in the heart of Southern Illinois, while Elmhurst University, a private liberal arts college, resides in the vibrant Chicago suburb of Elmhurst. With acceptance rates of 88% and 75% respectively, both universities welcome a diverse student body, though SIU-C's larger size results in a more substantial enrollment. While SIU-C excels in fields like engineering, business, and education, Elmhurst University shines in the liberal arts, nursing, and business administration. As you explore the comparison table below, consider factors such as location, academic offerings, and student life to determine which university best aligns with your aspirations and goals.
Elmhurst University logo

Elmhurst University

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale logo

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Overview

Location Elmhurst, Illinois Carbondale, Illinois
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system 4-1-4 Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 76.0% 75.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Protestant

Admission

Acceptance rate 71.3% 95.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $65
SAT range 1013 - 1220 930 - 1160
ACT range 22 - 29 20 - 28
Students submitting SAT score 29.0% 43.0%
Students submitting ACT score 9.0% 18.0%
Total number of applicants 3,762 6,987
Total number of admissions given out 2,682 6,648
Admitted students who chose to enroll 531 1,422
Yield rate 19.8% 21.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $55,536 $29,903
Average net price $24,018 $15,976
Tuition $39,100 $9,638
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,428

Meal plan: $4,544
Room/dormitory: $6,292

Meal plan: $4,330
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Other alternative tuition plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $25,993
91.0%
Average amount $13,301
Students receiving federal student loan 65.0%
Average amount $5,287
55.0%
Average amount $5,362
Students taking out private loans 9.0%
Average amount $15,454
8.0%
Average amount $12,619

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,914
Men 38.5% Women 61.5%
8,147
Men 51.4% Women 48.6%
Graduate students 604
Men 33.8% Women 66.2%
3,119
Men 46.3% Women 53.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 17.5%
International students 2.2% 7.7%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 964 4,492
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Illinois Missouri Indiana Tennessee Wisconsin

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Psychology
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Transportation and Logistics
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 68.4% 45.3%
Dropout rate 31.6% 53.2%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,839
  • Year 2: $81,997
  • Year 3: $88,790
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,792
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $86,731
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,229
  • Year 2: $63,832
  • Year 3: $66,861
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,535
  • Year 2: $54,209
  • Year 3: $65,150
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,244
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $64,665
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,014
  • Year 2: $51,690
  • Year 3: $60,665
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $59,776
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,970
  • Year 2: $36,401
  • Year 3: $54,414
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,672
  • Year 2: $45,383
  • Year 3: $54,289
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,194
  • Year 2: $53,358
  • Year 3: $48,489
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,053
  • Year 2: $104,597
  • Year 3: $108,594
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,138
  • Year 2: $65,905
  • Year 3: $75,851
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,097
  • Year 2: $64,068
  • Year 3: $70,959
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,319
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $66,942
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,274
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $66,280
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,465
  • Year 2: $58,221
  • Year 3: $62,788
Architecture (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,426
  • Year 2: $53,219
  • Year 3: $62,608
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,372
  • Year 2: $55,211
  • Year 3: $62,306
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,213
  • Year 2: $55,061
  • Year 3: $62,169
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,024
  • Year 2: $49,840
  • Year 3: $62,089

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