CUPPA Facts and Figures FY25

Our Mission

From our home in Chicago — one of the world’s greatest cities — and through our shared commitment to thriving urban areas everywhere, the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA) prepares a diverse student body and creates knowledge and solutions to shape more sustainable, just and equitable cities and local, national and global policies.

In a Nutshell

  • Established 1994 with the Department of Public Policy, Management, and Analytics (1994) and the Department of Urban Planning and Policy (1984)

  • Current Enrollment 216 undergraduate students, 330 graduate students

  • Programs 2 undergraduate majors, 6 undergraduate minors, 8 graduate programs

US News & World Report and Planetizen Rankings

  • No. 3 Planning Program in the Midwest by Planetizen

  • No. 6 Urban Policy

  • No. 8 Public Finance and Budgeting

  • No. 13 Local Government Management

  • No. 33 Public Management and Leadership

  • No. 34 Of 271 Best Public Affairs Programs

Student Snapshot

In 2024, CUPPA’s overall student population rose by 12.1%, with graduate program enrollment rising by 29.4% over 2023. At the same time, UIC’s total student enrollment is the second-largest in the university’s history. 158 degrees were awarded last year adding to the more than 7,500 CUPPA alumni who reside around the globe.

  • In State

    81% Undergraduate
    64% Graduate

  • Out of State

    19% Undergraduate
    36% Graduate

  • International

    Undergraduate 2.78%
    Graduate 20.30%

  • 1st Gen College Students

    30%

  • Undergraduate Status

    Part-time 17.13%
    Full-time 82.87%

  • Graduate Status

    Part-time 19.09%
    Full-time 80.91%

  • Undergraduate Diversity

    Asian 12.03%
    Black/African American 10.65%
    Hispanic 29.63%
    International 2.78%
    Multiracial 6.94%
    White 32.41%

  • Graduate Diversity

    Asian 4.24%
    Black/African American 10.91%
    Hispanic 20.30%
    International 20.3%
    Multiracial 2.12%
    White 41.82%

Faculty Snapshot

  • Faculty

    53 tenured, tenure-track, non-tenure, adjunct

  • Student to Faculty Ratio

    10 to 1

CUPPA Research

  • 7 Research Centers & Institutes 7

  • Awards # of research awards to CUPPA faculty and research centers in FY24

  • Student Researchers 55 CUPPA students employed by CUPPA grants

Involvement

  • Student Groups 7

  • Internship Providers 63 organizations hired CUPPA student interns

Alumni

  • Local # of alums in Chicagoland

  • Public Service # of alumni working in state/local/federal government

  • Notable Alumni Gia Biagi, Studio Gang; Greg Cameron, Joffrey Ballet; Josh Deth, Revolution Brewing; “Chuy” García, US Congres; Amy Gao & Shawn Zhang, Spatial Front