Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU Carbondale) is the flagship public R1 research university of the Southern Illinois University system. Founded in 1869 as Southern Illinois Normal College, the university awarded its first diplomas in 1874 and became a university in 1943. Graduate programs began in 1950.

Today, SIU Carbondale has approximately 11,800 students, including 8,500 undergraduates and 3,200 graduate students. Students come from all 50 US states and more than 100 different countries. The university consists of 8 faculties and colleges: Engineering, Business and Analytics, Humanities, Health and Human Sciences, Agriculture, Science and Technology, Law and Medicine. It offers more than 120 bachelor's, 80 master's, 40 doctoral programs and professional programs in Law and Medicine.

SIU Carbondale is distinguished by its engineering programs, the SIU School of Medicine, founded in 1970, which provides health care to the community along with education, the prestigious School of Law, and the Aviation program, known for its nationally recognized "Flying Salukis" aviation team. The College of Business and Analytics features a Bloomberg-equipped trading floor and the $3.8 million student-managed Saluki Fund.

SIU's research activities are classified as "Very High Research Activity" (R1) and SIU collaborates with Argonne and Oak Ridge National Laboratories, NASA, the US Geological Survey, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The 1,133-acre campus is located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, 100 miles southeast of St. Louis, and offers a beautiful college town atmosphere with historic buildings, Campus Lake, Thompson Woods and arboretum-like landscaping.

Student life is vibrant, with over 300 student clubs, 17 fraternities and 10 sororities, strong student government, and successful competitive groups such as the flight team, debate team, and the Saluki Student Investment Fund. Accommodation options include East and West campus dormitories and apartments for married, graduate or returning students.

The track and field teams known as the Salukis compete in NCAA Division I, mostly in the Missouri Valley Conference. They have teams in soccer, basketball, golf, tennis and many other sports. The soccer team won the NCAA Division I-AA national championship in 1983, while the men's gymnastics team has won several national championships. The university's mascot, the elegant Saluki dog, has represented the university since 1951.

Featured Departments: Engineering, Medicine, Law, Business and Analytics, Aviation

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U.S. News & World Report (2025): Ranked 288th among US national universities

Times Higher Education World Rankings (2025): Between 801-1000

Location: Carbondale, Illinois, United States of America

Year of Establishment: 1869 (first classes in 1874)