UIC Tuition Fees and Requirements for International Students: A Comprehensive Guide

For international students aspiring to study at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), understanding the tuition fees, associated costs, and specific requirements is crucial. This article provides a detailed overview of these aspects to help prospective students prepare for their academic journey at UIC.

Academic Credentials and Application Fees

Required Academic Documents

International applicants must provide official academic credentials from all post-secondary institutions attended. These credentials include transcripts, mark sheets, and degree certificates. All submitted documents become the property of the University and will not be returned or forwarded. Therefore, applicants should not submit their original or only set of academic credentials.

When the Office of Admissions asks you for transcripts, they are actually asking for a copy of your academic record which includes courses taken, course descriptions, credits earned or hours completed, and posted grades.

For application review purposes, a PDF copy of the credentials should be submitted online. However, the official documents must be submitted as well.

Specific Credential Requirements

Transcripts: Institutions in countries following the Bologna Agreement should provide transcripts. Some institutions (such as those in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka) provide a separate sheet for each year or semester, detailing the classes taken and marks achieved.
Diplomas/Degree Certificates: The Office of Admissions requires proof of all degrees earned, which should include a copy of the diploma or degree award certificate. The certificate should state the type of degree awarded, the fact that it was granted to the applicant, and the date of conferment.
Syllabus of International Coursework: Applicants may need to submit a syllabus or course descriptions if an academic credential does not provide enough detail about the courses taken. These items will usually provide a key for understanding the courses you have taken and will provide the highlights of that course's curriculum.

Translation Requirements

If the academic credentials are not in English, certified English translations are required. Plain translations, notarized translations, and translations done by someone other than a certified translator are not acceptable.

Read also: WSU for International Students

Application Fees

International applicants must submit a nonrefundable application fee totaling $170. This includes the standard $70 application fee and a $100 international evaluation fee, which is paid upon submission of the UIC Application. Students enrolled in summer term coursework are not required to submit this fee.

English Proficiency Requirements

Accepted Tests and Minimum Scores

International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through one of the following tests:

Note that colleges may set higher minimums for consideration of admission to certain programs.

If applicants cannot take any of the listed tests, the UIC Tutorium in Intensive English (TIE) offers an assessment that UIC accepts.

Waivers

English proficiency requirements are not waived based upon the medium of instruction at a previously attended institution, or other country where English is the only official language.

Estimated Expenses for International Students

Breakdown of Costs

The cost of attending UIC as an international student includes tuition and fees, living expenses, and books and orientation costs. These estimates are based on figures provided by Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Tuition and fees estimates are based on a course load of 12 credits per semester and are subject to change without notice. Estimates for living expenses cover only minimal essential expenditures for housing, food, transportation, and miscellaneous costs. Expenses for clothing, recreation, and incidentals are variable, and the cost of travel outside Chicago is not included.

Estimated Expenses Table

Please see below for a table of estimated expenses by degree level and program type. The total column reflects the amount of funding needed for one academic year, which for most programs is nine months long. Some programs noted with an asterisk (*) require year-round enrollment, and therefore, reflect a funding amount in the total column for 12 months of study. The amounts above reflect the bare minimum a student would need to live in Illinois.

Financial Documentation

International students must document that they have adequate funding from acceptable sources by providing copies of their financial statements to OIS. The university provides a list of acceptable and unacceptable account types for I-20 or DS-2019 issuance, along with sample bank letters illustrating the necessary information.

Funding Sources

Acceptable funding sources include:

Personal Funds: Savings, checking accounts, and fixed deposit accounts.
Scholarship Award Letters: An official letter from the sponsoring agency must clearly state the terms of the scholarship, such as tuition, fees, and books and living expenses provided.
University Funding: Students admitted to programs that provide University funding in the form of assistantships, fellowships, tuition waivers, or other forms of scholarship may wish to delay submission until an official letter of appointment or offer has been issued by the academic department. If the funding provided by your academic department does not cover the total amount listed in the estimated expenses table above, you will need to submit evidence of personal funds to cover the difference between your award and the full amount required. If funding from your academic department is not guaranteed, and you intend to attend the University even without funding, it may be best to submit the documents as soon as possible to avoid delays with obtaining your visa.

Tuition and Fees: Detailed Breakdown

Tuition Assessment

Tuition assessment is based upon student level, residency status, curriculum/college, and the total number of hours enrolled for the term. Students enrolled in summer term courses between 1-8 hours will be assessed on a per credit hour basis. Students enrolled with more than 9 credit hours will have tuition, differentials, fees, and assessments capped.

University of Illinois Chicago's tuition is $18,180 for in-state and $33,726 for out-of-state students. Compared with the national average cost of in-state tuition of $12,201, University of Illinois Chicago is more expensive. For students coming from out of state, the tuition is more expensive than the national average cost of out-of-state tuition of $29,084. These figures include both tuition and fees, also referred to as the sticker price. Fees differ by institution and may fund library services, student gym facilities, student centers, technology resources and campus health centers. As you’re comparing costs of different institutions, also consider the total cost and the net price. At University of Illinois Chicago, the total cost is $39,637 for in-state students and $54,659 for out-of-state students.

Guaranteed Tuition

Undergraduate degree seeking students entering the University in Summer 2004 or after are provided a four year tuition guarantee. The purpose of the undergraduate guaranteed tuition plan is to provide a high degree of certainty about tuition costs for students and families. The plan applies to all undergraduate students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program on one of the three campuses of the University of Illinois. The plan treats every student as part of a cohort defined by the date of entry to the University. Each cohort is guaranteed an unchanged tuition schedule for four years. Please note that fees are subject to change annually. Senate Bill 3222 allows students whose 4 years have expired to remain in the next most recently admitted cohort for 2 years. After the four year guarantee, students move to the next most favorable cohort rate in year 5, stay there for year 6.

Mandatory Fees

Several mandatory fees contribute to the overall cost of attendance:

General Fee: Supports staff salaries, programming, general operating expenses, and some student financial aid such as athletics and other scholarships (e.g. student travel scholarships and student research scholarships), student awards and prizes, waivers and honorariums for the following student service areas: Student Centers, Intercollegiate Athletics, Student Leadership Programs, Student Legal and Ombudsperson Services, Student Government, and student services at Rockford, Peoria and Quad Cities.
Service Fee: Supports the fixed costs, such as utilities, of operating fee-supported facilities on campus including: Student Centers, Campus Recreation, Campus Housing, the UIC Pavilion, the UIC Forum and the Flames Athletics Center. It also supports some need-based student financial aid as approved in the undergraduate financial aid policy and guidelines.
Student-To-Student Assistance Program Fee: Provides financial support to undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate high financial need. The fee is mandatory and is assessed each term.
Sustainability Fee: This fee was proposed by students to assist the University of Illinois Chicago in aligning its operations and academics with the principles of sustainability. It was fully discussed with and unanimously endorsed by the Student Fee Advisory Committee. A student-led committee, supported by faculty and staff, will make the allocation decisions for student-driven initiatives.
Health Service Fee: Supports staff salaries, programming and general operating expenses for the campus health service providers: Family Practice/Student Health Center, the Counseling Center, the Wellness Center and pharmacy services.
Health Insurance Fee: Provides health insurance that is mandatory for students. The fee is assessed on all students who enroll but may be waived for those who can demonstrate equivalent health insurance coverage.
CTA U-Pass Fee: (estimated).

Other Assessments

Academic Facilities Maintenance Fund Assessment (AFMFA): Assessed to all students.
Library and Information Technology Assessment: Assessed to all students to generate resources to improve the learning environment.
Clinic Infrastructure Assessment (CIA): Assessed to students in the DMD and DMD Advanced Standing programs each semester to improve the learning environment, ensure the availability of contemporary technology, and support clinical patient care learning experiences.
College of Medicine Disability Insurance Fee: Assessed once a year in fall and covers the cost of disability insurance which ensures a student has a source of income should they become disabled during medical school.
International Student Fee: $130 in fall and spring; $65 summer. The University has approved an international student fee for all international students attending UIC.
New Student Fee: Assessed for new freshman and for new transfers in fall semesters and in spring semesters. This fee supports the Office of New Student and Family Programs in provision of transitional programs including new student orientation, welcome activities, and other services.

Differential Tuition

Differential tuition supports specialized undergraduate programs that require additional resources, such as advanced technology, laboratory equipment, or smaller class sizes for intensive training. It also addresses accreditation standards and the elimination of historical subsidies.

Here are some examples of differential tuition rates:

Architecture, Design, & the Arts (excluding degree-seeking Undeclared majors, Art History & Integrated DEsign and Arts-IDEAS)
Engineering (including Computer Science & Linguistics, Pre-Computer Science & Linguistics; AND Computer Science & Design, Pre-Computer Science & Design)
Nursing
Business Administration
Movement Sciences/Kinesiology
Human Nutrition
Health Information Management
Public Health
Psychology, Physics, Biological Sciences, Neuroscience and Pre-Neuroscience, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Integrated Health Studies, Pre-Health/Pre-Science, & Earth and Environmental Science majors

Regional Site Tuition and Fees

UIC offers various programs at regional sites in Illinois including Urbana, Quad Cities, Springfield, Rockford, and Peoria. Due to proximity, certain fees are not assessed at regional sites or fees are assessed through a sister campus. In addition, there are certain exceptions to assessment of non-resident tuition.

Nursing students at Urbana are assessed UIC tuition, UIC differentials, and UIC assessments, with Urbana campus fees.
Nursing students at Springfield are assessed UIC tuition, UIC differentials, with Springfield campus fees and assessments.
At Quad Cities, the UIC Health Service Fee and CTA U Pass is not assessed, and graduate level nursing at Quad Cities does not assess non-resident tuition.
Rockford and Peoria do not assess the CTA U Pass.
Pharmacy students at Rockford are not assessed non-resident tuition.

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