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See what students say:

Academics

Education, business, agriculture, and aviation are among the many "strong" programs at "affordable" and "diverse" Southern Illinois University—Carbondale. "There is a great variety of classes, both in size and subject," explains a history major. "I have had class with 15 people and I have had class with 300 people." "Some professors rock while others suck," says a speech communication major. "Many are researchers who aren’t great teachers." Teaching assistants are also pervasive and "there are a lot of instructors whose primary language isn’t English." The language barriers in class are an unending source of frustration for students. On the other hand, many faculty members are "insightful and entertaining." They are "approachable" "and seem to have a genuine interest in their students." "My academic experience has been great, especially in my upper-level courses," beams a biology major. A recurrent complaint here concerns the campus infrastructure. "Roofs leak when it rains" and "many of the buildings need fixing up."

Student Body

This "very friendly" campus is "very much self-segregated" ethnically but "the student population is very diverse." "You can find a little bit of everything here," says one student. "SIUC is not an elite school," explains a sophomore. "There are students of all ranges of the economic spectrum coming together and coexisting." There are "rich suburb people" from Chicago and St. Louis. There’s a strong contingent of urban kids, too. Many other students are nontraditional students, community college transfers, or "country folks" from "one-stoplight" Illinois towns. "There are students who excelled in high school and students who struggled." "There are many different styles—all the way from preppy to punk to gothic to hip-hop to pajama pants." There are "a few hippies." There are "also the super nerds." "Every group is basically covered." Politically, "SIU is pretty split between conservatives and liberals" but "nobody really rallies for any causes or anything."

Campus Life

Though parking can be "impossible," SIUC’s wooded campus comes complete with its own little lake and this place is "really pretty," especially in the fall. "Some amazing forest preserves and national parks" are also very close. "The outdoor life here in Southern Illinois is second to none." In addition to all the natural beauty, students can partake in a profound range of extracurricular activities. Everything from amateur radio to skydiving is available. The award-winning school newspaper is a popular rag. "Interesting" big-name speakers frequently drop in and give lectures. Frats exist but "you don’t have to go Greek to find a niche." Saluki athletics are all the rage and students are "really into school spirit." The recreational facilities are "excellent." Off-campus, Carbondale, while "smallish," is "a cool town" and "a fun place to be." "The local music scene is incredible" and you can get into bars once your I.D. says you are 19. Some students insist that the "party scene has calmed down" in recent years. "Southern isn’t as diehard as people would like to believe," they say. Others tell us that "bar crawls and wake-and-bakes" are commonplace. Whatever the case, "you can’t talk about SIUC without talking about the parties." "There are usually a few fun keggers a weekend."

Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Contact
Krystal Hudson
Event Coordinator

Address
SIU Undergraduate Admissions
Student Services Building, 1263 Lincoln Drive, MC 4710
Carbondale, IL 62901

Phone
618-453-7141

Email
visitsiu@siu.edu

Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
Morris Library
Student Center
Recreation Center
Banterra Center
Campus Lake

Most Popular Places Off Campus
Shawnee National Forest
Giant City State Park
University Place
Carbondale Farmer's Market
Shawnee Hills Wine Trail

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center
M-F; Select Saturdays each Semester
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
618-453-7141

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: Varies
Average Length: 1 hour

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
Yes

Information Sessions
Available

Times
Call (618)453-7141 for times

Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Year-round

Arrangements
Contact Athletic Department

Advance Notice
2 weeks

Contact Email Address for Visit
visitsiu@siu.edu

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available
Varies

Arrangements
Contact Visiting Center

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
AMTRAK; Hertz; Saluki Express (bus); Greyhound; Veterans Airport; St. Louis Lambert International Airport; Vogler Car Rental; Southern Illinois Airport; Mid-America Airport

Driving Instructions to Campus
admissions.siu.edu/visit/get-here/

Local Accommodations
https://www.carbondaletourism.org/business/category/stay-a-yhile/40

Admissions

Applicants: 10,392
Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average HS GPA: 3.23






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