Illinois Institute of Technology, almost always called "Illinois Tech" (and sometimes "IIT Chicago" to avoid confusion with the unrelated Indian Institutes of Technology), runs its Electrical Engineering programs out of the Armour College of Engineering on its Mies Campus in Chicago. Electrical Engineering is offered at both the undergraduate level (BS in Electrical Engineering, four years) and the graduate level (MS in Electrical Engineering, two years), and both sit inside a university that leans hard into applied, career-facing education: every undergraduate is guaranteed hands-on research, co-op, or industry-project experience through Illinois Tech's Elevate initiative, and the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked Illinois Tech #1 in Illinois for graduate starting salaries in 2026. For applicants comparing Illinois Tech against pricier private engineering schools, the pitch is a genuinely accessible acceptance rate, a $0 undergraduate application fee, a named conditional-admission pathway for borderline English scores, and STEM-designated degrees that unlock the full 36 months of US work authorization after graduation.
This guide covers acceptance rate, real tuition costs, admission requirements, English-test rules, and career outcomes for both the BS and MS in Electrical Engineering at Illinois Tech.
Acceptance Rate
Illinois Tech does not publish a department-specific acceptance rate for Electrical Engineering at either degree level. The available proxies:
- Undergraduate (BS in Electrical Engineering): Illinois Tech's overall undergraduate acceptance rate is approximately 55%, a university-wide figure rather than an Electrical Engineering-specific one. Illinois Tech is test-optional, and STEM-track admits in recent cycles have averaged around a 4.12 GPA, suggesting Electrical Engineering applicants should expect roughly the university-wide bar rather than a materially more selective one.
- Graduate (MS in Electrical Engineering): Illinois Tech does not publish a single university-wide graduate acceptance rate at all; admission is evaluated department by department. Armour College of Engineering's STEM master's programs, including Electrical Engineering, are generally considered among the more accessible routes given the university's heavy reliance on international STEM enrollment (graduate students already outnumber undergraduates roughly two to one).
Bottom line: treat 55% as a reasonable university-wide proxy for the BS route, and treat the MS route as evaluated holistically by the Armour College of Engineering rather than against any published percentage.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Approximate annual costs for international students, based on Illinois Tech's published cost of attendance:
| Cost Item | BS (Undergraduate) | MS (Graduate) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $53,198/year | $34,650/year |
| Living expenses | $20,398/year | $20,398/year |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | $73,596/year | $55,048/year |
Illinois Tech charges one flat tuition rate regardless of citizenship, so international and domestic students pay identically. The undergraduate application fee is $0 (waived entirely on the Common Application); graduate application fee amounts vary by program and aren't published university-wide. Undergraduate merit scholarships range from $10,000/year up to full tuition and are awarded automatically at the time of admission, with no separate application required. Graduate students can access departmental teaching and research assistantships (common in Electrical Engineering) that typically include a stipend plus partial or full tuition remission.
Admission Requirements
BS in Electrical Engineering (Undergraduate):
- Common Application (free to submit, no application fee)
- Official secondary school transcripts covering the last three full years, with certified English translations if needed
- English proficiency scores (TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo) unless exempt
- SAT or ACT scores (optional; Illinois Tech is test-optional and superscores anything submitted), with the middle-50% SAT range among those who submitted roughly 1180-1400
- Letters of recommendation (required for Early Decision/Early Action, optional otherwise)
- Financial documentation for I-20 visa processing after admission
Deadlines: Early Decision (binding) November 1, Early Action November 15, Regular Decision February 1 for Fall entry, and October 15 for Spring entry.
MS in Electrical Engineering (Graduate):
- Graduate application via Illinois Tech's online portal
- Official transcripts showing a completed four-year bachelor's degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0
- Personal statement outlining academic and professional goals
- Resume/CV and typically one letter of recommendation for master's applicants
- GRE scores (optional for most master's programs, including Electrical Engineering)
- English proficiency scores (TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo) unless exempt
- Financial Affidavit of Responsibility with proof of liquid funds for I-20 visa processing
Deadlines: Fall entry November 15, Spring entry March 15, Summer entry June 15, all on a rolling decision basis.
How to Get Into Illinois Tech's Electrical Engineering Program
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Use the test-optional policy strategically. Illinois Tech superscores any SAT/ACT submitted, so only submit scores if they sit at or above the reported 1180-1400 middle-50% range; a strong GPA and a clear, specific engineering narrative matter more than a marginal test score here.
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Lean on the $0 application fee to apply without hesitation. Since there's no financial barrier to applying at the undergraduate level, it's worth submitting a genuinely well-prepared application rather than treating Illinois Tech as a low-effort safety option.
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For graduate applicants, tie your personal statement to a specific lab, faculty member, or Armour College research strength. GRE is optional for most Electrical Engineering master's applicants, which shifts more weight onto the statement of purpose and technical resume than at GRE-mandatory peer programs.
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Consider the named Conditional Admission pathway if your English score is borderline. Illinois Tech runs a real, specifically named bridge program (not a marketing phrase) through Kaplan International Center, ELS Education Services, or The Language Company, letting applicants as low as TOEFL 70 or IELTS 5.5 gain admission and move to unconditional status without a new application cycle.
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Plan around the STEM OPT extension from the start. Because Electrical Engineering is STEM-designated at Illinois Tech, graduates qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of standard 12-month OPT; factoring this into your program choice and internship strategy early pays off at the job-search stage.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
Illinois Tech sets its own English-proficiency bar independent of any single third-party ranking body. For general context on applying to Illinois Tech, see the Illinois Institute of Technology guide. The Electrical Engineering-specific numbers, straight from Illinois Tech's published policy:
- Undergraduate (BS): IELTS minimum 6.5, TOEFL minimum 80, Duolingo minimum 115. Waived automatically for applicants completing a full degree in one of 19 designated English-speaking countries, or who meet an alternative benchmark (SAT EBRW 550+, ACT English 25+, AP English 4-5, IB English 5-7, or an Indian Standard XII English mark of roughly 60%/B average or higher).
- Graduate (MS): IELTS minimum 6.5 (with no subsection below 6.0), TOEFL minimum 80 (equivalent to 4.5 under the redesigned scale for tests taken from January 21, 2026), Duolingo minimum 115. Waived for applicants who completed an ELS Level 112 or NCUK English for Academic Purposes program, at least 60 semester hours at a US institution within the last 36 months, or a bachelor's degree from an approved English-speaking country.
- Conditional admission: available at both levels. Undergraduate applicants can be conditionally admitted as low as TOEFL 70, IELTS 5.5, or Duolingo 100; graduate applicants can pair concurrent English-language coursework with their degree, or complete an intensive English program first.
This is a moderate rather than elite bar compared to peer engineering schools, which is one reason Illinois Tech is a realistic target for mass-volume international applicants who don't have a near-perfect test score.
Career Outcomes
Illinois Tech does not publish employment rate or average starting salary figures broken out specifically by Electrical Engineering or by degree level, but the university's broader outcomes data are directionally useful:
- Undergraduate graduation rate: approximately 71%
- Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 ranking: Illinois Tech ranked #1 in Illinois for graduate starting salaries, a university-wide figure that reflects Illinois Tech's heavily STEM-weighted graduate population (Electrical Engineering included)
- STEM OPT eligibility: Electrical Engineering at both the BS and MS level is STEM-designated, qualifying international graduates for the 24-month STEM OPT extension (36 months of total work authorization) on top of the standard 12-month OPT period
- Employer base: Illinois Tech does not publish a top-recruiters list for Electrical Engineering specifically, but the university's Chicago location gives direct access to one of the largest tech and engineering employer markets in the US
Illinois Tech's own editorial framing treats the named Conditional Admission pathway, $0 application fee, and test-optional policy as its real competitive edge for international applicants who want a legitimate US STEM degree without needing a near-perfect application.
FAQ
Does Illinois Tech publish a separate acceptance rate for Electrical Engineering? No. The best available proxy is the university-wide undergraduate acceptance rate of approximately 55%; there is no published graduate-level acceptance rate, since Illinois Tech admits by department rather than university-wide at the graduate level.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for Illinois Tech's Electrical Engineering program? Both the BS and MS require IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80 for direct, unconditional admission (Duolingo 115 is also accepted). Graduate applicants additionally need no IELTS subsection below 6.0.
Is Illinois Institute of Technology related to the Indian Institutes of Technology? No. Illinois Institute of Technology is a private American university in Chicago, founded in 1890, with no institutional relationship to the Indian IITs. They share the acronym by coincidence, with entirely separate admissions systems and campuses.
How much does the BS or MS in Electrical Engineering cost? The BS costs approximately $53,198/year in tuition ($73,596/year total cost of attendance including living expenses); the MS costs approximately $34,650/year in tuition ($55,048/year total cost of attendance).
Does Illinois Tech offer conditional admission if my English score is below the requirement? Yes, at both degree levels. Undergraduates can be admitted conditionally as low as TOEFL 70 or IELTS 5.5 through named partner institutions (Kaplan, ELS, or The Language Company); graduate students can pair concurrent English coursework with their degree or complete an intensive English program first.
Is the GRE required for the MS in Electrical Engineering? No, GRE is optional for most Illinois Tech master's programs, including Electrical Engineering, though it's required for most PhD programs. Always confirm current policy on the department's admissions page.
Is Electrical Engineering at Illinois Tech a good option for staying in the US after graduation? Yes. Both the BS and MS are STEM-designated, unlocking the 24-month STEM OPT extension (36 months total work authorization), and Illinois Tech's Chicago location and #1-in-Illinois graduate salary ranking (WSJ/College Pulse, 2026) support strong practical outcomes for international engineering graduates.