University of Illinois Chicago
#=334
QS Rank
79%
Acceptance rate
$22,000
Tuition/yr
47,478
Enrollment
About University of Illinois Chicago
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is a public research university in the Near West Side community area of Chicago, Illinois, United States.
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is a public research university and the largest university in the Chicago metropolitan area. Founded in 1965, it enrolls over 35,800 students across 16 colleges, offering more than 95 undergraduate and 100 graduate degree programs. UIC holds R1 Carnegie classification, designating it as a doctoral university with very high research activity.
UIC is nationally recognized for several professional programs. Its undergraduate nursing program ranks 13th in the US, the College of Pharmacy ranks 11th at the graduate level, and the School of Public Health ranks in the top 25 nationally (all per US News 2026). Engineering, computer science, business analytics, and management information systems are popular choices for international students.
The main campus sits on the Near West Side of Chicago, about 1.5 miles from the city center, with direct access to public transit. UIC is ranked #334 in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and tied #80 among all national universities in US News 2025. It also places 201-250 in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.
World University Rankings
Campus & Location
IL
Urban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates from CRICOS-registered programs qualify for 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total of US work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- UIC's strength in STEM, nursing, and computer science aligns well with fields where Nepali students have high employment rates under the F-1 OPT program; STEM graduates are eligible for up to three years of post-study work authorization in the US.
- International students can apply for the Laurette Kirstein Scholarship, administered through UIC's Office of International Services, which awards tuition credits to full-time degree-seeking international undergraduates, one of the few merit-based scholarships at UIC open to non-US citizens.
- With out-of-state tuition around USD 32,000 per year, lower than many comparable R1 universities on the coasts, UIC represents a mid-cost option for Nepali families seeking a large, research-active public university in a major US city.
- Chicago's large South-Asian community and UIC's diverse urban campus (with over 3,600 international students) mean Nepali students are likely to find peer networks and cultural resources more easily than at smaller, rural US campuses.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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