US CollegesGetting in
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale admits 87% of those who apply, which makes it open to most applicants. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1055 out of 1600 (midpoints: 535 in reading and writing, 510 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 24 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees for a year | $13,544 |
| Room and meals on campus | $12,341 |
| Books and supplies | $780 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $28,511 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $12,554 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 28% below the median net price of colleges in Illinois on this site ($17,318). International students normally pay the published tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $10,536 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $9,034 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $8,884 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $14,051 |
| Above $110,000 | $23,744 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | IL median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 67% | 72% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 59% | 53% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $57,388 | $58,865 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $19,500 | $19,684 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Illinois and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
44% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 44% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 52% women and 48% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 11 of the 88 colleges in Illinois on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,667.
Other colleges in Illinois of a similar size
- Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, public
- Northwestern UniversityEvanston, private nonprofit
- University of ChicagoChicago, private nonprofit
- Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, public
- Columbia College ChicagoChicago, private nonprofit
- Loyola University ChicagoChicago, private nonprofit
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale admits 87% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
Published tuition and fees are $13,544 a year. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
59% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.