Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Chicago, Illinois
55.4% Acceptance Rate
Illinois Institute of Technology — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
55.4%Acceptance Rate
3.84Avg GPA
1296Avg SAT
28Avg ACT
$67,720Annual Cost
$82,592Grad Salary
29.1%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
55.4%
Avg GPA
3.84
Avg SAT
1296
Avg ACT
28
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1180–1410
ACT Middle 50%
25–31
Need-Based Aid
29.1% receive Pell
Illinois Institute of Technology, founded in 1890 in Chicago, is a STEM-focused university renowned for architecture, engineering, and computer science. Home to the first accredited architecture program in the U.S.
The Mies van der Rohe-designed campus features the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation, the Idea Shop makerspace, and the McCormick Tribune Campus Center. IIT's Elevate program guarantees hands-on experiences for all students.
Illinois Institute of Technology Acceptance Rate
Illinois Institute of Technology takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 55.4% each year.
What Illinois Tech Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 55.4% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.84 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.64 – 3.83
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.39
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Illinois Institute of Technology Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Illinois Institute of Technology is October 15 for Regular Decision (Spring) applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by November 5.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 81 days left — Regular Decision (Spring)
Regular Decision (Spring)
October 15
Decision by: November 5
Early Decision
November 1
Decision by: December 1
Regular Decision
February 1
Decision by: March 15
Early Action
November 15
Decision by: January 1
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Illinois Tech GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Illinois Tech is 3.84. That makes admissions here extremely selective. Most admitted students carry straight A's, with very little room for a B.
If your GPA sits between 3.54 and 3.84, a high SAT or ACT score is the most reliable way to compensate.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 4.04–4.24.Illinois Tech GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective; GPA is within the typical admitted range.
Recommended Strategy: Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) in the top 5th percentile.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.84 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.64 – 3.83
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.44 – 3.63
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.43
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Essay set: required 250-word "Why IIT," optional 200-word essay, and required 800-word essay.
- Top 200 applicants are invited to the Camras Scholars weekend to interview for a full-tuition scholarship.
- Rolling admissions; test-optional (SAT/ACT not required for domestic applicants).
- Formal Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program with structured employer partnerships, distinct from standard internships.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Illinois Tech
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Illinois Institute of Technology's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Illinois Tech is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Illinois Tech Without SAT or ACT?
Illinois Tech considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Illinois Institute of Technology Average SAT Score: 1296
The average SAT score of admitted students at Illinois Institute of Technology is 1296 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1296 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1410 SAT or 31 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Illinois Institute of Technology allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1180, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Illinois Tech. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 665 | 610 | 720 |
| SAT Reading | 630 | 570 | 690 |
| SAT Composite | 1296 | 1180 | 1410 |
Below 1180, you're behind most admitted students; at 1410 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1300
Can I get into Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) with a 1400 SAT?
A 1400 SAT puts you ahead of most of Illinois Tech's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Illinois Tech is 28.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 28 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean without being elite-tier.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 28 | 25 | 30 |
| ACT English | 29 | 24 | 34 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 25 | 31 |
Can I get into Illinois Institute of Technology with a 31 ACT?
A 31 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Illinois Tech's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section (Science, especially, at STEM-focused schools) stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Illinois Tech.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Illinois Tech
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Illinois Tech is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Structure your three-part essay set deliberately
IIT's application includes a required 250-word "Why IIT" essay, an optional 200-word essay, and an 800-word essay. Use the optional essay only if you have real content the 250-word essay couldn't hold - don't pad it.
Reference something concrete from IIT's Chicago identity
Admissions guidance specifically points to campus visits, research labs, study abroad, and even campus traditions like the Pumpkin Launch event. Name something specific rather than describing IIT as a generic "tech school in a big city."
Aim for the Camras Scholars weekend if you're a strong applicant
The top 200 applicants receive an invitation to interview for a full-tuition scholarship. Ask admissions directly what strengthens your invitation odds, since this is a distinct opportunity beyond standard admission.
Leverage the formal Co-op program in your major-specific essay content
IIT's enhanced Cooperative Education Program includes structured employer partnerships and a formal preparatory process. If professional experience matters to you, reference this program by name.
Expert Insight:
Because some IIT essay questions are explicitly optional and skipping them doesn't hurt admission, applicants sometimes either skip valuable opportunities to add context or, conversely, pad the optional essay with filler. Use it only when you have something the required essay didn't cover.
Illinois Tech Profile
Full Name
Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech)
City
Chicago
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
60616
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Illinois Tech Degree Worth It?
At $67,720/year against a $82,592 median graduate salary, Illinois Tech is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $74,100, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.41%.
How much does a degree from Illinois Tech Cost?
The sticker price is $67,720/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
29.1% of students receive a Pell Grant and 32.6% take federal loans at Illinois Tech — file your FAFSA early and list Illinois Tech as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Illinois Tech Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $82,592 — about 103% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Illinois Institute of Technology. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA | 1277 | 29 |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | 1277 | 27 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 1263 | 28 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Illinois Institute of Technology. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| United States Coast Guard Academy | New London, CT | 1290 | 28 |
| University of Delaware | Newark, DE | 1297 | 29 |
| Rollins College | Winter Park, FL | 1304 | 29 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Illinois Institute of Technology. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 1353 | 30 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA | 1367 | 29 |
| Westmont College | Santa Barbara, CA | 1367 | 32 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, CO | 1353 | 31 |
Degree Programs at Illinois Tech
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois Tech Admissions
Illinois Institute of Technology graduates typically earn around $82,592 a year, on the higher end depending on industry.
At about $67,720 a year, Illinois Institute of Technology's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
About 29.1% receive a Pell Grant at Illinois Institute of Technology — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 55.4%, Illinois Institute of Technology's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Illinois Institute of Technology average a 3.84 GPA.
Illinois Institute of Technology doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.54 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.44, Illinois Institute of Technology becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Illinois Institute of Technology — aim above 1296, ideally within the 1180–1410 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Illinois Institute of Technology is October 15 for Regular Decision (Spring) applicants. Admission decisions are released by November 5.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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