Recruitment
About
One of the aims of the Graduate College’s Office for Recruitment and Retention is to attract talented students to UIC’s graduate programs. This is done through several mechanisms like conferences, group visits, outreach to students, and collaborations with faculty and staff.
Throughout this page, you can find information for prospective students, faculty, and staff about recruitment efforts and resources.
Recruitment Calendar
| Conference | Date |
|---|---|
| University of New Mexico McNair Conference | 9/4/2025 |
| GEM Annual Board Meeting and Conference | 9/10/25 - 9/13/2025 |
| University of Maryland Baltimore County McNair Conference | 9/19/2025 - 9/20/2025 |
| American Indian Science and Engineering Society | 10/4/2025 |
| University of Illinois Chicago Graduate Fair | 10/16/2025 |
| National Society for Black and Hispanic Physicists Conference | 11/19/2025 - 11/23/2025 |
Application Fee Waivers
Application fee waivers are available for graduate program applications. Please click the Graduate and Professional Admissions website link below to learn more about application fee waiver eligibility.
Preparing to Apply
- Ensure to review the admissions application and deadline page to see specific program deadlines
- Research your program of interest and faculty you may want to work with
- Do not be afraid to connect with us during your graduate school search
Funding
Financing your graduate education can look different for everyone. The Graduate College funding webpage details information about fellowships, assistantships, and other financing options. Below is a list of specific fellowship opportunities both internal and external.
- Access to Excellence Fellowship
- Pipeline to an Inclusive Faculty (PIF) Fellowship
- Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) Early Admission Fellowship
- GEM Fellowship Program (External)
UIC's Tribal Nation Tuition Award
This award is new in 2025 for graduate and professional students. This tuition award is administered to new incoming students who are members of one or more of the tribal nations recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the award gives recipients the opportunity to study at UIC for the equivalent of in-state tuition. Applicants are evaluated for the award during the admissions process. It allows out-of -state students who qualify as a member of a Native community to pay tuition at the in-state rate.
Get connected!
If you have any questions about applying to graduate school at UIC please contact Emily Manzo, Assistant Director for Recruitment and Retention at emanzo4@uic.edu.
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The Graduate College Office for Diversity and Recruitment aims to collaborate via recruitment initiatives with Director of Graduate Studies, faculty and staff across departments and programs at UIC to increase diversity among graduate students.
Below are resources to help boost recruitment efforts!
For any questions, please reach out to Emily Manzo, Assistant Director for Recruitment and Retention at emanzo4@uic.edu.
Recruitment Directories
These Recruitment Directories hold contact information for prospective students met at the conferences and institutions the recruitment team travels to, in addition to national student databases. Directors of Graduate study have access to these directories through the shared box link, login access is required.
National Name Exchange Directory
The National Name Exchange (NNE) focuses on removing barriers in accessing higher education for historically unrepresented students in higher education, including first-generation students, veterans, racial and ethnic minorities, specific genders in some field and other groups.
McNair TRIO Scholars Directory
The Ronald E. McNair Program is a federally funded TRIO program that aims to prepare underrepresented students for doctoral studies through involvement in undergraduate research.
GEM Fellowship Directory
The GEM program offers a fellowship for MS and PhD level science and engineering students who attend a member university, UIC being one of them. The directory is made up of students who are actively applying or have received the fellowship.
Graduate College Prospective Student Form Directory
This directory is actively updated with the various prospective graduate student information the Graduate College recruitment gathers when traveling and hosting visits.
Recruitment Email Templates
Recruitment email templates that could be used to contact prospective graduate students are located in the Box, DGS Resource folder as “Recruitment Resource Kit” (login required).
- Initial Contact – off directories
- Encouraging Application Submission – Post Initial Contact
- Post-Application Submission
- Post-Admission Contact
Application Fee Waviers
There are two main application fee waivers that prospective students may be eligible for the Ronald E. McNair Application Fee Wavier and the Research Engagement Program Waiver, ensure that students are aware of them.
Potential Funding Sources
- Access to Excellence Fellowship
- Pipeline to an Inclusive Faculty (PIF) Fellowship
- Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) Early Admission Fellowship
- GEM Fellowship Program
Connect With Us
If you want to have further conversations about potential collaborations, recruitment resources, or have us attend departmental/faculty meetings please reach out to Lunaire Ford, Associate Dean at lford@uic.edu and Emily Manzo, Assistant Director for Recruitment and Retention at emanzo4@uic.edu.
Cost of Living and Housing Search Resources
We at the UIC Graduate College understand that finances, among other factors play a large role in your decision in selecting a graduate program. Below are some resources that could be helpful in learning more about the cost of living in Chicago and searching for housing.
For any questions or concerns as you weigh your options for graduate school, please do not hesitate to contact Emily Manzo, Assistant Director for Recruitment and Retention, at emanzo4@uic.edu.
Average Rental Price in Chicago
According to Zillow the average rent for all households’ type in Chicago is $1,900, but for a one-bedroom apartment the average is about $1,500 which fluctuates depending on what neighborhood you are in.
Example of Chicago Neighborhoods
| Neighborhoods | Average Rent Price |
|---|---|
| Archer Heights, Brighton Park | $1,500 |
| Lower West Side, Humboldt Park | $1,700 |
| Albany Park | $1,750 |
| West Town | $2,000 |
| Near West Side | $2,050 |
| Logan Square | $2,200 |
| South Loop | $2,600 |
Transportation and Parking
City Trains and buses (CTA)
UIC is situated near the Blue Line (UIC-Halsted and Racine stops) and the Pink Line (Polk stop on west campus), in addition to various CTA bus routes.
UIC Students are able to opt into the U-PASS which allows unlimited access to the CTA public transportation. For this past spring semester, the cost was $163 a semester.
Metra
Metra is the commuter rail agency that provides transportation to and from nearing Chicago Counties. The U-PASS+ can be purchased which provides additional unlimited access to the Metra at $349 a semester.
Parking
There are a range of various parking lots at UIC that you can access as a student. Please see the Campus Parking website for the most current rates.
Average Cost of Food and Fuel
Below is a table that lists the average costs of fuel and food within the Midwest region.
Commuter and Off-Campus Life
UIC’s center for Commuter and Off-Campus Life focuses on supporting all commuter and off-campus students through various initiatives. Please visit their page, linked below, to engage with the resources they offer like: Off-Campus housing search engine, information on starting your search, roommate search, and utility guide.