Southern Illinois University-Carbondale: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Carbondale, Illinois · Public · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- 11,089
- Applicants
- 10,473
- Admitted94%
- 1,535
- Enrolled
- 15%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access94% admittedRanked #288 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #192 (tie), Business Programs #199 (tie), Computer Science #235 (tie), Economics #201 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Southern Illinois University-Carbondale against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is a public university in Carbondale, Illinois that admits about 94% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $13,297 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Air Transportation, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas and Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 59% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 3.1 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. For the most recent reporting cycle, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 94%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1020 and an ACT composite around 24. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $13,297 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
57% of enrolled students at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale had a high school GPA of 3.25 or above, and the average was 3.291, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale weight in admissions?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Class rank
- Academic GPA
Considered
3- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
Not Considered
13- Rigor of secondary school record
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Southern Illinois University-Carbondale typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 430–570, with an EBRW midpoint near 535. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 18–25. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 890 |
| 50th percentile | 1020 |
| 75th percentile | 1180 |
| % submitting SAT | 39.02% |
| 25th percentile | 19 |
| 50th percentile | 22 |
| 75th percentile | 25 |
| % submitting ACT | 8.66% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Automatic admission with 2.75+ GPA, OR ACT 23/SAT equivalent, OR top 10% rank; scores needed only if GPA under 2.75. Some programs add requirements.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 15.67% |
| Top 25% of class | 38.09% |
| Top 50% of class | 69.64% |
| % submitting class rank | 60.7% |
How much does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale actually cost?
Published tuition is $13,334 for in-state students and $13,334 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,341 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $13,297 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 39% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $9,833 |
| Room and board | $12,341 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $13,297 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 63% |
| Average need-based grant | $14,484 |
| Average merit award, no financial need342 first-year students received one | $5,169 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 57% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $29,123 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $40 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
| Notification date | 6/1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
These predict outcomes at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
The most popular undergraduate programs at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Air Transportation, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas and Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians. Across all programs, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale confers roughly 700 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Air Transportation program report a median income of about $66,893 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Air Transportation | 150 | $66,893 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 120 | $63,679 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | 89 | $74,324 |
| Criminology | 75 | $55,612 |
| Psychology, General | 74 | $46,393 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 67 | $70,417 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 64 | $71,582 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 61 | $46,084 |
Is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Southern Illinois University-Carbondale disclosed 26 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.1 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 2 violent offenses and 9 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
About 42% of undergraduates at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Illinois parents ask about
Next steps for Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Common questions parents ask about Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
What GPA do I need for Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
57% of enrolled students at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale had a high school GPA of 3.25 or above, and the average was 3.291, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 430–570, with an EBRW midpoint near 535. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 18–25.
How much does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale after grants and scholarships is $13,297 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $13,334. Budget against the net figure.
Is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale realistic for my child?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale admits 94% of applicants, so 430–570 SAT Math is target range and below 430 is a reach. Then check the $13,297 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale accepts about 94% of applicants out of roughly 11,089 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale test-optional?
Yes. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered. Automatic admission with 2.75+ GPA, OR ACT 23/SAT equivalent, OR top 10% rank; scores needed only if GPA under 2.75. Some programs add requirements.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
About 59% of students at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale graduate within six years, and 45% finish in four years. 67% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale look for in applicants?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale rates class rank and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale a public or private school, and where is it located?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois.
What are the most popular majors at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
The largest undergraduate majors at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale by annual graduates are Air Transportation, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas and Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians. The school awards about 700 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale reported 26 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 3.1 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
At Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, 42% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers