Southern Illinois University--Carbondale is a public institution that was founded in 1869. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 14,130, its setting is rural, and the campus size is 1,136 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Southern Illinois University--Carbondale's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 177. Its in-state tuition and fees are $12,104 (2013-14); out-of-state tuition and fees are $24,970 (2013-14).

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):
All the brains of a nationally ranked research university.All the heart of a small college. This is just another way of saying that, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, our intense academics are powered by relationships. Our faculty are some of the most cited experts in their fields and they still give students the personal attention they deserve.
So no matter how far you want to go, SIU can shrink the distance between where you are and where you want to be. Here are just some of the ways we stand out:

-Ranked in the top 4% of higher ed institutions by the National Science
Foundation
-Over 200 majors including stellar programs like Architecture, Business,
Engineering, Journalism, Theater, and Zoology
-U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges 2013" placed SIU into Tier One
of "Top Public Universities: National Universities"
 
-Students participate in research as early as freshman year
-More than 80% of our undergraduate class sections have fewer than 30
students

General Information

School type	public, coed college
Year founded	1869
Religious affiliation	N/A
Academic calendar	semester
Setting	rural
2012 Endowment	$94,596,800

Applying
When applying to Southern Illinois University--Carbondale, it's important to note the application deadline is May 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due May 1. The application fee at Southern Illinois University--Carbondale is $30. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 51.4 percent.
 

Selectivity	selective
Fall 2012 acceptance rate	51.4%
Application deadline	May 1
SAT/ACT scores must be received by	May 1

Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Southern Illinois University--Carbondale is 15:1, and the school has 59.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Southern Illinois University--Carbondale include: Education; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields; Health Professions and Related Programs; and Social Sciences. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 66 percent.

Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio	15:1
4-year graduation rate	26%
Five most popular majors for 2012 graduates
Education 19% Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services 9% Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields 8% Health Professions and Related Programs 8% Social Sciences 7%

 

Student Life
Southern Illinois University--Carbondale has a total undergraduate enrollment of 14,130, with a gender distribution of 55.4 percent male students and 44.6 percent female students. At this school, 29 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 71 percent of students live off campus. Southern Illinois University--Carbondale is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
 

Total enrollment	18,847
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Collegiate athletic association	NCAA I

Campus Info & Services
Southern Illinois University--Carbondale offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. Southern Illinois University--Carbondale also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Southern Illinois University--Carbondale, 54 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Southern Illinois University--Carbondale.

Students who have cars on campus	54%
Health insurance offered	Yes

Paying for School
At Southern Illinois University--Carbondale, 68.2 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $7,630.
 

In-state tuition and fees	$12,104 (2013-14)
Out-of-state tuition and fees	$24,970 (2013-14)
Room and board	$9,527 (2013-14)