Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Acceptance Rate
Carbondale, Illinois · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 10,401
- Admitted
- 9,407
- Yield
- 17.2%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's acceptance rate has risen from 81.5% in 2014–15 to 90.4% in 2023–24. Applications fell from 10,896 to 10,401 (-5%) over that period.
Its 90.4% rate makes Southern Illinois University-Carbondale more selective than about 20% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 50 tracked Illinois schools, it is more selective than about 12%.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 17.2% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 10,896 | 8,883 | 81.5% | 2,775 |
| 2015–16 | 10,667 | 8,602 | 80.6% | 2,177 |
| 2016–17 | 9,106 | 6,980 | 76.7% | 1,611 |
| 2017–18 | 7,961 | 6,051 | 76% | 1,395 |
| 2018–19 | 6,232 | 4,478 | 71.9% | 1,133 |
| 2019–20 | 5,377 | 3,569 | 66.4% | 1,037 |
| 2020–21 | 6,165 | 5,658 | 91.8% | 1,361 |
| 2021–22 | 6,987 | 6,648 | 95.1% | 1,422 |
| 2022–23 | 9,771 | 8,940 | 91.5% | 1,518 |
| 2023–24 | 10,401 | 9,407 | 90.4% | 1,621 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 6,157 | 5,604 | 91% |
| Men | 4,235 | 3,797 | 89.7% |
| Unknown | 9 | 6 | 66.7% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 470–580 | 36% |
| SAT Math | 440–560 | |
| ACT Composite | 20–27 | 11% |
How Southern Illinois University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's acceptance rate?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's acceptance rate is 90.4% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (9,407 admitted of 10,401 applicants).
Is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale test optional?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale received 10,401 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 9,407.
What SAT score do you need for Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
Admitted students at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale typically scored 470–580 on SAT Reading/Writing and 440–560 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale getting harder to get into?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 81.5% in 2014–15 to 90.4% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://siu.edu/.