Is Boston University generally harder to get into than the University of Illinois Chicago?

The main practical difference is that Boston University draws a much larger national and international applicant pool for a limited private-university class, while UIC’s admissions process is more closely tied to its public, urban research-university mission and Illinois applicant base. As a result, Boston University is generally harder to gain admission to overall. BU also tends to expect a particularly strong academic record in demanding coursework alongside sustained extracurricular involvement.

UIC is certainly not automatic, especially for capacity-limited or high-demand programs such as nursing, computer science, engineering, and some health-related majors. Admission can vary substantially by college and intended major, so an applicant who is competitive for UIC overall may face a different level of selectivity in a specific program. Illinois residency can also be relevant at UIC, though strong out-of-state applicants are admitted as well.

For a senior whose grades and activities appear viable at both schools, Boston University should be treated as the more ambitious application, and UIC may be the less selective option overall. That does not make UIC a safety without checking your intended major’s requirements and your academic profile.