Important Alerts
Events | Dates |
---|---|
Master of Business Administration [M.B.A] Application Deadline For Next Intake | Closing in 3 days 28th Jul 2025 |
Master of Business Administration [M.B.A] Class Start Date For August Intake | Closing in 24 days 18th Aug 2025 |
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a flagship public research university established in 1869. It is one of the top 300 universities in USA according to the U.S. News and World Report. The university offers more than 200 undergraduate courses, 70 master's and 30 PhD degrees through 9 colleges and a graduate school. Zoology, computer science, architecture and public administration are some of the popular courses at SIU among international students. Currently, there are 11,790 students at Southern Illinois University, including 874 international students
Southern Illinois University has an acceptance rate of 87% for undergraduate programs and 59% for graduate programs, according to previous year's admissions. Indian students seeking admissions at Southern Illinois University must follow the below requirements before applying:
- 2.75 GPA (81%) in Class 12th or equivalent qualification.
- 2.7 GPA (80%) or 3.0 GPA (85%) in bachelor’s for master's degree.
- TOEFL score of 68 for UG and 80 for PG.
- IELTS score of 6.5 for UG and 6.0 for PG.
The annual tuition fee at Southern Illinois University is $24,439 - $25,597 (₹21.35 lakhs - ₹22.36 lakhs) for undergraduate programs and $25,566 - $26,835 (₹22.38 lakhs - 23.48 lakhs) for graduate programs. Indian students need to budget $40,000 to meet educational and living expenses in USA while studying at Southern Illinois University.
Southern Illinois University Rankings
Southern Illinois University ranks #288 among the Best National Colleges by U.S. News and World Report Rankings 2024-25. Some other notable rankings of Southern Illinois University by U.S. News are as follows:
- #60 for Pharmacy in Graduate School
- #93 for Nursing for Nursing Anesthesia
- #158 for Fine Arts Program
- #178 for Part-time MBA
- #193 for Public Health
Miscellaneous Rankings by U.S. News:
- #158 among Top Public Schools
- #180 among Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- #336 among Top Performers on Social Mobility
Southern Illinois University Top Courses
Tabulated below are the top programs of Southern Illinois University with details of admission requirements, deadlines, and annual tuition fee::
Program | Admission Requirements | Application Deadlines | Annual Tuition Fee (USD) |
---|---|---|---|
M.S Civil Engineering | Bachelor’s Degree with 3.0 GPA (85%) | GRE Required | None | $25,566 (22.2 Lakhs) |
M.S Civil and Environmental | Bachelor’s Degree with 3.0 GPA (85%) | GRE Required | Fall/Summer [Mar 1, 2025] | Spring [Sept 1, 2025] | $25,566 (22.2 Lakhs) |
M.S Computer Science | Bachelor’s Degree with 3.0 GPA (85%) | GRE Scores (Optional) | UG coursework in calculus, programming, computer science, Unix/Linux programming | Fall [Feb 15, 2025] | Spring [Sept 15, 2025] | $25,566 (22.2 Lakhs) |
M.S Electrical and Computer Engineering | Bachelor’s Degree with 3.0 GPA (85%) | GRE Required | None | $25,566 (22.2 Lakhs) |
M.S Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processes | Bachelor’s Degree with 3.0 GPA (85%) | GRE Required | Fall/Summer [Mar 1, 2025] | Spring [Sept 1, 2025] | $25,566 (22.2 Lakhs) |
Southern Illinois University Admissions
Southern Illinois University admissions are conducted in the fall, spring, and summer semesters every year. There are no deadlines to apply for UG courses, along with the majority of graduate courses. However, Indian students are suggested to apply as soon as possible to get enough time for visa processing.
How to Apply?
- Apply using the Online Application for both undergraduate and graduate programs.
- Pay the application fee of $65 for graduate admissions and $40 for undergraduate admissions.
- Submit your application at least 2 months prior to semester starts.
Graduate Admission Requirements:
- Masters- 2.7 GPA (80%) or 3.0 GPA (85%) in previous graduate coursework
- PhD- 3.0 GPA (85%) in graduate coursework
- English language scores:
- TOEFL IBT- 80
- IELTS- 6.5
Undergraduate Admission Requirements:
- High school or equivalent qualification with 2.75 GPA (81%)
- English language scores:
- TOEFL IBT- 68
- IELTS- 6.0
Documents Required for International Students:
- Official transcripts
- Personal statement
- Essays
- Resume
- Proof of funds
- Passport copy
Also Check: Southern Illinois University Admissions 2025
Southern Illinois University Acceptance Rate
Southern Illinois University demonstrates slightly selective admissions for UG and moderately selective for PG with acceptance rate of 87% and 59% respectively. Given below is 5 year trend for Southern Illinois University acceptance rate from 2020 to 2024:

Southern Illinois University Cost of Living
International students studying at Southern Illinois University are required to spend annual living expenses around $16,165 (₹14.12 lakhs) for undergraduate programs and $12,174 (₹10.63 lakhs) for graduate programs. This will include the cost of books, housing, transportation and miscellaneous expenses.
Southern Illinois University Scholarships
Southern Illinois University awards more than $20 million in the form of merit scholarships to UG students annually. Every year, over $6 million are awarded to incoming undergraduate students. A range of graduate scholarships are available for international students, including Indians through university funding and some external scholarships. The most popular scholarships for Indian students include:
- College of Business and Analytics Chartered Financial Analyst Scholarship: Awarded to master's students with 3.0 (85%) in bachelor’s degree. Applicants must submit an essay with their scholarship application.
- Graduate Scholar Award: Offered to newly admitted students in undergraduate or graduate programs with 3.0 (85%) in previous qualification. The application for this scholarship must be submitted by March 1, 2025.
- Geographic Enhancement Opportunity Award: An award worth $10,374 (₹9.06 lakhs) for UG and $8,436 (₹7.37 lakhs) for PG is awarded annually based on the following criteria:
- Undergraduate- TOEFL score of 79 or IELTS score of 6.5
- Graduate- academically qualified students in master’s degree based on undergraduate performance. The student must be admitted to a full-time master's degree.
Also Check: Popular Scholarships to Study in USA
College Comparison
Given below is the comparison of Southern Illinois University with similar colleges based on national ranking, fees, acceptance rate, and annual graduate salary:
Category | Southern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University | University of St. Francis | Aurora University | Illinois State University |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. News National Rankings | #288 | #273 | #296 | #273 | #220 |
Acceptance Rate | 87% | 70% | 97% | 82% | 89% |
Placement Rate | 84.7% | 88% | 98% | 50% | 95-100% |
Annual Graduate Salaries (USD) | $78,000 | $92,248 | - | $68,000 | $51,000 |
Southern Illinois University is the oldest among the SIU system. The university is quite popular for its diverse range of courses, flexible mode of delivery, and small class size. The courses are available in both online and on campus mode. MBA and MS Business Analytics are some of the popular online degrees offered by SIU.
FAQs
Ques. How is life at Southern Illinois university for Indians?
Ans. You can connect with SIU’s Indian Student Association, which provides endless opportunities for all Indian students. This is a non-profit organization which allows Indian students to feel the homely atmosphere in USA and also promotes Indian culture including cuisine, art, music by conducting numerous events throughout the year. This group also offers growth opportunities, academic support and other facilities for Indian students.
Ques. What are the best reasons to attend Southern Illinois University?
Ans. Some of the major reason why should choose Southern Illinois University:
- SIU offers affordable undergraduate and graduate programs for International students compared to other popular universities in the same region.
- Both undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to get involved in research projects which can enhance their employability after graduation.
- With small class size all students get enough attention from faculty and also receive additional support from teachers outside the classroom.
Ques. Is Southern Illinois University expensive?
Ans. Southern Illinois University is one of the most affordable institute in the region with an annual tuition fee ranging from $24,439 - $25,597 (₹21.35 lakhs - ₹22.36 lakhs) for graduate students and $25,566 - $26,835 (₹22.38 lakhs - 23.48 lakhs) for undergraduate students.
SIU-Carbondale Program Fees & Deadlines
Program | Important Dates | Fees | Application Fees | Eligibility |
---|---|---|---|---|
M.S Computer Science 2 years Course Offered by: | Application Deadline For Spring Intake (15th Sep 2025) Application Deadline For Fall Intake (15th Feb 2026) | USD 25,566 /Yr | 65 | TOEFL iBT: 80 | IELTS: 6.5 | Duolingo: 115 | PTE : 64 |
Application Deadline For Spring Intake (1st Oct 2025) Application Deadline For Fall & Semester Intake (1st Mar 2026) | USD 25,566 /Yr | 65 | TOEFL iBT: 80 | IELTS: 6.5 | Duolingo: 115 | PTE : 64 | |
Application Deadline For Spring Intake (1st Oct 2025) Application Deadline For Fall & Semester Intake (1st Mar 2026) | USD 25,566 /Yr | 65 | TOEFL iBT: 80 | IELTS: 6.5 | Duolingo: 115 | PTE : 64 | |
B.S Computer Science 4 years | USD 24,439 /Yr | - | - | |
M.B.A 14 months | Application Deadline For Next Intake (28th Jul 2025) Class Start Date For August Intake (18th Aug 2025) | USD 17,820 /Yr | 65 | TOEFL iBT: 80 | IELTS: 6.5 | Duolingo: 115 | PTE : 64 |
USD 24,439 /Yr | - | - | ||
USD 24,439 /Yr | - | - | ||
B.S Civil Engineering 4 years | USD 24,439 /Yr | - | - | |
USD 24,439 /Yr | - | - | ||
B.A Drawing 4 years | USD 24,439 /Yr | - | - |
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SIU-Carbondale comparison
University Name | Southern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University |
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Collegedunia Score | 4.1 Out of 10 | 4.1 Out of 10 |
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Acceptance Rate | 80.6 % | 51.8 % |
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Overall 801 out of 2857 in Global Ranking
Nearest Ranked Colleges
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SIU-Carbondale Student Profiles
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SIU-Carbondale Scholarships
Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
---|---|---|---|---|
QS scholarships | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
Richard A. Freund International Scholarship | Scholarship per student$5,000 | Level Of StudyDoctorate | TypeMerit-Based | |
SWE Scholarships | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship | Scholarship per student$5,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
NSHSS Scholarships | Scholarship per student$10,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
California State University Dominguez Hills Scholarships: | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCollege-Specific |
Do you think the Scholarship is wrong ? Report Here
SIU-Carbondale Admissions
Application Portal: https://admissions.siu.edu/applynow.html
Early Action Deadlines
Important Date: November1 (Application deadline)Important Date: April1 (Application results)Regular Decision Deadlines
Important Date: January15 (Application deadline)Important Date: April1 (Application results)
SIU-Carbondale Exam Scores
Attendance Cost
The table shows average yearly cost of attendance for international students. Amount may vary with the course opted, nature of accommodation, and personal spending habits of a candidate.Check Program wise Fees
SIU-Carbondale Accreditations
Faculty
Total Faculty | Full Time | Part Time | Graduate Assistants |
---|---|---|---|
19537 | 16375 | 3162 | 1189 |
SIU-Carbondale Campus Location
Nearby This Campus
- Book Store
- Pharmacy
- Restaurant
- Shopping Mall
- Train Station
- Super Market
- Hospital
- Airport
Book Store
Restaurant
Train Station
Hospital
Pharmacy
Shopping Mall
Super Market
Airport
● All distance are measured radially. Actual distance may vary
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Comments
Found 5 Comments
To prepare for your Southern Illinois University interview, research about the university. Learn about their academic programs, campus life, and what makes SIU unique. Practice answering common interview questions like "Why SIU?" and "Tell me about yourself." Prepare questions for the interviewer too, showcasing your genuine interest. Lastly, dress professionally, arrive early, and be confident.
Since the applications for admission to a plethora of courses provided by the institute are released on a rolling basis, there are no fixed deadlines for applications. there is a possibility for F-1 students to study at Southern Illinois University (SIU). For more information regarding admissions, you can check SIU Admissions.
When will the process take place?
Each program has its own application deadline and processing timeframe. However, you can explore the SIU courses to learn more about the curriculum, fees, and other details.