Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Academics

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How strong are the academics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

11:1
Student to faculty ratio
20
Average class size
40%
4-year grad rate

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

SIU Carbondale has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
415
10-19
481
20-29
334
30-39
128
40-49
43
50-99
57
100+
17

Honors Programs

Southern Illinois University Carbondale has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on SIU Carbondale's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at Southern Illinois University Carbondale:

67%
First-year retention rate
40%
4-year grad rate
57%
6-year grad rate

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are Southern Illinois University Carbondale's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Aviation/Airway Management and Operations
Psychology, General
Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Trade and Industrial Teacher Education
53.6
67.28
80.96
94.64
108.32
122

The Full List

Major Graduates
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields
  • Animal Sciences, General 27
  • Applied Horticulture/Horticultural Business Services, Other 14
  • Agricultural Economics 12
  • Soil Science and Agronomy, General 11
  • Agriculture, General 3
  • Agriculture, General 3
  • AGRICULTURAL / ANIMAL / PLANT / VETERINARY SCIENCE AND RELATED FIELDS 3
  • Food Science and Technology, Other 2
  • Applied Horticulture/Horticultural Business Services, Other 2
  • Agricultural Economics 2
  • Soil Science and Agronomy, General 1
  • Animal Sciences, General 1
  • Agriculture, General 1
  • Agriculture, General 1
  • AGRICULTURAL / ANIMAL / PLANT / VETERINARY SCIENCE AND RELATED FIELDS 1
  • Plant Sciences, General 0
Architecture And Related Services
  • Architecture 29
Area
  • African-American/Black Studies 1
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Zoology/Animal Biology 44
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 38
  • Physiology, General 17
  • Microbiology, General 6
  • Botany/Plant Biology 2
  • Biochemistry 1
Business
  • Accounting 48
  • Management Science 28
  • Finance, General 24
  • Business Administration and Management, General 20
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General 17
  • Hospitality Administration/Management, Other 15
  • Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other 5
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General 1
  • Management Science 1
  • Finance, General 1
  • Business/Managerial Economics 0
Communication
  • Journalism 24
  • Radio and Television 23
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric 15
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Information Technology 42
  • Computer Science 27
  • Computer Science 1
  • Information Science/Studies 0
Culinary
  • Funeral Service and Mortuary Science, General 12
Education
  • Trade and Industrial Teacher Education 65
  • Elementary Education and Teaching 35
  • Special Education and Teaching, General 22
  • Early Childhood Education and Teaching 18
  • English/Language Arts Teacher Education 12
  • Educational/Instructional Technology 12
  • History Teacher Education 6
  • Agricultural Teacher Education 4
  • Biology Teacher Education 3
  • Mathematics Teacher Education 3
  • Mathematics Teacher Education 1
  • Health Teacher Education 1
  • Social Science Teacher Education 0
  • Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 0
  • Foreign Language Teacher Education 0
Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering 25
  • Civil Engineering, General 14
  • Computer Engineering, General 8
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering 7
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering 6
  • Mining and Mineral Engineering 0
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 0
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
  • Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician 68
  • Industrial Technology/Technician 52
  • Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician 7
  • Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other 5
  • Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General 0
  • Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General 0
  • ENGINEERING/ENGINEERING-RELATED TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS 0
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 11
  • English Language and Literature, General 1
  • Rhetoric and Composition 0
Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
  • Apparel and Textiles, General 6
  • Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, Other 5
  • Apparel and Textiles, General 1
  • Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General 0
Foreign Languages
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures, General 16
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures, General 4
  • Linguistics 2
  • Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other 0
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 0
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 0
  • German Language and Literature 0
  • Spanish Language and Literature 0
  • French Language and Literature 0
  • Russian Language and Literature 0
Health Professions And Related Programs
  • Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist 57
  • Health/Health Care Administration/Management 49
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 45
  • Dental Hygiene/Hygienist 33
  • Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 5
  • Health/Health Care Administration/Management 1
  • Physician Associate/Assistant 0
  • Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other 0
  • Athletic Training/Trainer 0
History
  • History, General 14
  • History, General 1
Homeland Security
  • Fire Services Administration 21
  • Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration 0
Legal Professions And Studies
  • Legal Assistant/Paralegal 8
Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 66
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Mathematics, General 6
  • Mathematics, General 1
Mechanic And Repair Technologies/Technicians
  • Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician 0
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Nutrition Sciences 11
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 4
  • International/Globalization Studies 0
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Forestry, General 35
  • Environmental Studies 8
Parks
  • Exercise Science and Kinesiology 34
  • Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 25
  • Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 9
  • Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 1
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 3
  • Philosophy 2
Physical Sciences
  • Chemistry, General 7
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 6
  • Physics, General 2
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 1
  • Chemistry, General 1
Psychology
  • Psychology, General 71
  • Psychology, General 4
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
  • Social Work 38
Social Sciences
  • Criminology 58
  • Political Science and Government, General 19
  • Economics, General 12
  • Anthropology, General 5
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 4
  • Sociology, General 4
  • Criminology 3
  • Political Science and Government, General 2
  • Anthropology, General 1
  • Geography 0
  • Social Sciences, General 0
Transportation And Materials Moving
  • Aviation/Airway Management and Operations 122
  • Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General 32
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General 28
  • Interior Design 9
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 8
  • Cinematography and Film/Video Production 7
  • Music, General 6
  • Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other 1
  • Design and Visual Communications, General 0
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