“Public R1 research university in Carbondale, the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system.”
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIU) is a public research university chartered in 1869 and the flagship of the SIU system. Located on a 1,100-acre campus at the edge of the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois, SIU is classified as an R1 institution (highest research activity) by the Carnegie Classification and enrolls roughly 11,700 students from across the United States and from 100+ countries. The university is organized into more than a dozen colleges and schools and offers over 200 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. It is best known nationally for its School of Aviation — one of the oldest and most respected collegiate aviation programs in the country, home of the Flying Salukis — as well as its College of Engineering, Computing, Technology and Mathematics, its School of Journalism and Advertising, and top-ranked programs in automotive technology, forestry, and radio-television-digital media. SIU's distinguishing value proposition for international students is financial. Through the Saluki Advantage / High Achiever tuition program, qualifying international freshmen (3.5+ GPA) and transfer students (3.0+ GPA with 26+ credits) pay the in-state tuition rate — roughly $12,900 per year instead of the $24,400 non-resident rate — one of the most aggressive international-friendly pricing structures at any U.S. R1 public research university. Combined with a low Carbondale cost of living, total cost of attendance for a high-achieving international student drops well below $30,000 per year, an order of magnitude cheaper than comparable coastal public flagships. Student life at SIU is shaped by its Midwestern college-town setting. The campus sits adjacent to Campus Lake and the Shawnee National Forest — offering hiking, climbing, and paddling just minutes from lecture halls — and it anchors a vibrant downtown Carbondale district of coffeehouses, music venues, and student-run businesses. SIU's NCAA Division I Salukis compete in the Missouri Valley Conference, and the university sponsors over 400 registered student organizations including a notable Association of International Students, a Center for International Education that hosts weekly programming, and dozens of country- and culture-specific clubs. With 1,500+ international students, a dedicated Center for English as a Second Language (CESL) bridge program, and strong STEM-designated degree programs in engineering and computer science, SIU has built a reputation as a welcoming research-focused option for students who want an affordable U.S. degree.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Research Activity
Carnegie Classifications (2021)
Research classification
Carnegie Classification
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceRolling — Fall International
No fixed deadline; recommended to complete application at least 2 months before semester start to allow I-20 processing.
Rolling — Spring International
Recommended cut-off 2 months before January start.
Priority Scholarship Deadline
Completing application by this date maximizes eligibility for competitive merit scholarships.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$13,334
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Home to ABET-accredited engineering programs, the School of Computing, and automotive technology — all STEM-designated for the 24-month OPT extension.
One of the oldest collegiate aviation programs in the U.S., offering the only FAA Part 141 flight training at an R1 university, plus aviation management and maintenance tracks. Home of the nationally competitive Flying Salukis precision flight team.
A storied Midwestern journalism school with strong broadcast, photojournalism, and advertising tracks; alumni include Pulitzer Prize winners.
Integrates the life sciences, forestry, plant and soil science, and physics; features a 300-acre research forest and the Cooper Forest Ecosystems research center.
AACSB-accredited business college offering undergraduate majors, an MBA, and a Master of Science in Analytics that is STEM-designated.
4 years
FAA Part 141 professional pilot program with SIU-owned aircraft, structured multi-engine and instrument training, and direct pipelines to regional airlines — one of the lowest-cost commercial-pilot degrees in the U.S.
4 years
STEM-designated CS degree with concentrations in cybersecurity and data science; graduates qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension beyond the standard 12-month OPT.
2 years
STEM-designated graduate program combining business strategy with SQL, Python, and predictive modeling — a popular pathway for international students aiming at H-1B roles in data and analytics.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $13,334
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
