Established in 1859, the University of Illinois Chicago is a public research university, the largest in the Chicago metropolitan area. There are currently 34,199 students enrolled in this school, across a wide variety of programs.
UIC’s College of Medicine trained one out of every three doctors in Illinois. Medical students have practical clinical experience early on in their studies and have the opportunity to conduct research in the most innovative areas in the field. But is the University of Illinois Chicago a good medical school?
Is The University of Illinois Chicago a Good Medical School?
Yes, the University of Illinois Chicago is a good medical school. It fully prepares its medical students for successful careers in their fields through great residency programs. There are 53 residency programs at this school and some of them are even regarded as being the best of their kind.
UIC’s College of Medicine is also at the forefront of groundbreaking research. It constantly receives funds to allow investigation in areas like prostate cancer vaccines, cures for diabetes, and reversing infertility mechanisms. The school’s graduation rate is high at 62%.
This article will provide you with the information you need to understand whether the University of Illinois Chicago is a good medical school or not. We’ll go over the school’s match data, admission requirements, and acceptance rates, and provide some reviews from former students.
The University of Illinois Chicago Medical School Admission Requirements
There are over 1,300 students enrolled in UIC’s College of Medicine. This school is popular for its MD curriculum which allows students to choose one of six pathways, apart from the traditional one, depending on the type of career they wish to pursue.
- CEMED. The Clinical Executive Medicine pathway prepares students for leadership roles.
- IMED. The Innovation Medicine pathway adds an innovation, tech, and medical design focus to the program
- GMED. The Global Medicine Education program trains students to be global health leaders as clinicians, educators, policymakers, or researchers.
- RMED. The Rural Medicine Education program is designed for students who wish to become physicians in rural Illinois.
- UMED. The Urban Medicine pathway teaches students how to address health issues in urban, underserved communities.
- EquIMED. The Equity Innovation Medicine program prepares students to use innovation in healthcare as a way to advance health equity in all underserved environments.
Besides these different types of MD program pathways, there are a few other programs available. Here are a few of them:
- Traditional MD Program
- 4-year Integrated MD/MPH
- Medical Scientist Training Program (PhD)
Traditional MD Program
UIC’s traditional MD program prepares students for practicing medicine, researching, teaching, and many other disciplines related to medical practice. The program focuses on practical training, developing critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Admission requirements for this program include a Bachelor’s degree and the completion of all prerequisite coursework with a grade of C or better. The program’s website provides a complete list of all prerequisites.
Students also need to submit their MCAT scores, three letters of recommendation, and complete the Altus Suite – Comprehensive Admissions Assessments. Some students might need to attend in-person interviews.
4-year integrated MD/MPH
This joint-degree program resulted from a partnership between the College of Medicine and UIC’s School of Public Health. It prepares students for leadership roles in clinical medicine, public health, and preventive medicine areas. They’ll learn how to combine clinical knowledge with administrative skills.
As a supplement to the MD program, admission requirements for this program are the same. During their application through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), students must simply indicate their interest in the integrated MD/MPH program.
Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/Ph.D.)
The MSTP program is also a dual degree in which students receive the preparation needed for successful careers as physician-scientists. They are often offered admission to some of the top residency programs in competitive academic institutions.
Students get to study the basic medical sciences, public health, bio-engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences. They also conduct their own original research in the school’s state-of-the-art laboratories.
To apply for this program, students have to check the MD/Ph.D. option while using the AMCAS. The main admission requirements are the same as needed for the traditional MD program application. Additionally, students have to submit two additional essays and complete a supplemental application.
The University of Illinois Chicago Acceptance Rate
According to the US Department of Education College Scorecard, the University of Illinois Chicago has an acceptance rate of 73%. For every 100 students, only 73 are admitted which means that the UIC is lightly selective.
UIC College of Medicine’s acceptance rate is definitely a lot lower. It’s estimated to be around 5-8%.
The University of Illinois Chicago Match Data
Graduate students from UIC’s College of Medicine are usually matched with highly competitive match programs across the country. In 2022, the top matched specialty for these students was internal medicine. Other specialties included emergency medicine, dermatology, and psychiatry.
This particular class matched with programs from 29 different states including California, Indiana, and Massachusetts. 39 students were able to match at the University of Illinois Hospital.
The University of Illinois Chicago Tuition
In-state medical students are expected to pay a total of $82,682 per year, while out-of-state pay a total of $115,862. For a medical student staying at the Chicago campus, base tuition is $45,900.
Students are also required to pay a few other costs. Some of them include $5,732 in mandatory fees, $2,100 in books and supplies, and $2,150 in transportation. Room and board, personal expenses, and other fees are also charged.
Does The University of Illinois Chicago Accept AP Credits?
Yes, the University of Illinois Chicago accepts AP credits. Credit awarded depends on the scores obtained on the Advanced Placement Examinations administered by the College Board. For the College of Medicine, AP coursework counts toward prerequisite requirements.
Related: Do Medical Schools Accept Community College Credits? (Explained!)
Does The University of Illinois Chicago Offer Scholarships?
Yes, the University of Illinois Chicago offers scholarships based on need and merit. Some scholarships are available for students of particular UIC schools while others are general and open to every student. Here are a few of them:
- College of Medicine Urban Health Summer Research Program. This scholarship awards $3,500 to support underrepresented minorities in research. Students who receive this scholarship are required to pursue a 6-week summer research project.
- Chancellor’s Fellow. This is a financial need-based scholarship that awards $10,000 a year to Illinois residents whose families have an income less than six times the federal poverty line.
- Merit Tuition Award. This scholarship is available to non-resident high-achieving students in good academic standing.
The University of Illinois Chicago Accreditation
The University of Illinois Chicago is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the accrediting institution that accredits postsecondary institutions in the North Central region of the US.
The UIC College of Medicine and its program are also accredited by different institutions. The College of Medicine and its MD program are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Graduate medical education on all campuses is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Is The University of Illinois Chicago A Good Medical School?
Yes, the University of Illinois Chicago is good for medical students who wish to have access to high-end research facilities and possibly match with some of the most competitive residency programs.
In the 2022 U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of colleges and universities, UIC ranked 46th among 209 public national universities. It is also the only Illinois college ranked among the ten best value colleges in the country by Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education.
Pros of Studying at The University of Illinois Chicago
- Many research opportunities
- Expert faculty
- Affordable tuition
- Diverse and supportive community
- Low student-to-faculty ratio
Cons of Studying at The University of Illinois Chicago
- Hard to get funding
- Low stipends
- Commuter school
Students and Graduate Reviews of The University of Illinois Chicago
Positive reviews from Grad Reports and Reddit praise the school’s education and research opportunities, the helpful faculty, and the wide variety of study fields to explore. They also mention the school’s diversity, great facilities, amazing clubs, community atmosphere, and sports.
Rate My Professors provides more mixed reviews of the school. Students mention that getting funding is hard and that stipends are very low, making it hard to live in a big city. This is also a commuter school which means that students who don’t get involved in clubs or sports won’t have many social opportunities.
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