University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
#3 Best Bachelor's Programs in Illinois- Graduation Rate
- 85% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $81,054 A
- Top 4% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $14,355 C+
- 16% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 42% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A A- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 37.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $37.6 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Bachelor's Programs in Illinois.
Every $1 spent returns $37.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,101,966.
What The Data Says
-
An A- overall — top 14% of all U.S. colleges on measured outcomes.
-
Graduates earn 99% more than the national college median.
-
A 85% graduation rate — 49% above the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $37.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- World Rank
- #33
- Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 81/100
- Times Higher Education
Why University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Matters
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public research university in Champaign, IL ranked #33 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 4% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 36,258
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing, Social Sciences
Why students choose University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 42% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1310–1520. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,355 a year after grants and scholarships — 16% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $81,054 ten years after enrolling — 99% above the typical college, against $19,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.73 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
More than 36,000 students choose the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for its strong academic programs and vibrant campus life. With an acceptance rate of 42%, the university maintains a competitive edge while welcoming a diverse student body. The graduation rate stands at an impressive 85%, indicating a supportive environment for student success.
Data from Opportunity Insights highlights that graduates from Illinois Urbana-Champaign can expect solid economic mobility. The average earnings for alumni ten years after graduation reach $81,054, suggesting that degrees from this university translate into significant financial benefits. While specific mobility rates are not available, the school’s emphasis on high-demand fields like Engineering, Business, and Computer Science supports upward mobility for many graduates.
Cost considerations are crucial for students. The net price for attending is approximately $14,355, which is manageable compared to potential earnings. Graduates carry a median debt of $19,500, a figure that aligns with the financial landscape of public universities. Students who thrive here typically have a strong interest in STEM fields or business, benefiting from robust programs and a collaborative campus culture.
Rankings
- #3 Best Bachelor's Programs in Illinois
- #3 Best Master's Programs in Illinois
- #3 Best Engineering Colleges in Illinois
- #3 Best Online MBA Programs by ROI
- #5 Best Communications Colleges in Illinois
- #8 Best Computer Science Colleges in Illinois
- #8 Best Data Science Colleges in Illinois
- #8 Best MBA Programs in Illinois
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, located in Champaign, Illinois, reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 42%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,440. The graduation rate is roughly 85%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 42%
- Retention Rate
- 95%
- SAT Average
- 1440
- ACT Midpoint
- 32
- SAT Range
- 1310–1520
- ACT Range
- 30–34
- Full-Time Faculty
- 73%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $14,464
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 21:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.76
- First-Gen Students
- 25%
- Applicants
- 63,257
- Admitted
- 28,354
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 29% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.
- Yield Rate
- 29%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 41%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 14%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 56% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is $35,124, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,355. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,038 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $16,004
- Out-of-State
- $35,124
- Avg Net Price
- $14,355
- Median Debt
- $19,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 23%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 27%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $2,038
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,373
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,982
- Family Income $110K+
- $28,761
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earn a median of $81,054, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $64,802
- 8 Years
- $74,029
- 10 Years
- $81,054
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.24x
- Earning > $25K
- 80%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (4,971)
- 72%
- 100% (4,971)
- 72%
- 100% (4,971)
- 72%
- 100% (4,971)
- 72%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,355/year ($57,420 total). Graduates earn $81,054 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,159,386 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,101,966 (37.6× your investment). The median debt is $19,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 85% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $57,420
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,159,386
- Net Return
- $2,101,966
- ROI Multiple
- 37.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,355
- Median Debt
- $19,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 85%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Research & Teaching
Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
How Research-Intensive Is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign at #33 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 81/100, teaching at 68/100, and citation impact of 73/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
- World Rank
- #33
- Teaching
- 68.1
- Research
- 80.9
- Citations
- 72.9
- International
- 55.9
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 81/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 73/100
- Citation impact (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Engineering 21% $99,927 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 10% $120,711 early-career
- Business & Marketing 10% $85,473 early-career
- Social Sciences 7% $65,133 early-career
- Psychology 6% $33,730 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $37,422 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 5% $69,178 early-career
- Communications 5% $51,228 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, located in Champaign, Illinois, reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 42%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,440. The graduation rate is roughly 85%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is $35,124, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,355. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,038 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,500 in federal student loans.
Is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earn a median of $81,054, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
How Connected Is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Its economic connectedness score is 1.73, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign at #33 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 81/100, teaching at 68/100, and citation impact of 73/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offer Early Decision?
No. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 56% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
About 29% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
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Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
- University of California-DavisDavis, CA · Close peer85% grad $80,838 earn 42% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA · Close peer84% grad $78,466 earn 39% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD · Close peer89% grad $82,860 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA · Close peer86% grad $80,735 earn 29% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI · Close peer89% grad $73,792 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · Close peer87% grad $84,943 earn 27% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Its economic connectedness score is 1.73, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note