Illinois vs. William Jewell College

Should I go to University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign or William Jewell College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Illinois or William Jewell College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign vs. William Jewell College comparison
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign William Jewell College College 3 College 4
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign William Jewell College
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Overview

 Illinois William Jewell College
Location Champaign, IL Liberty, MO
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 56,563 886
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #120
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinois.edu jewell.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Illinois William Jewell College
Tuition (In State) $12,712 $18,600
Tuition (Out of State) $31,208 $18,600
Room & Board $13,938 $11,381
Avg Net Price $14,297 $17,408
Avg Grant Aid $17,524 $16,922
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 100%

Admission

 Illinois William Jewell College
Applied 67,398 2,132
Admitted 29,446 731
Acceptance Rate 43.7% 34.3%
Enrolled % 28.3% 31.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.61
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 29/34 19/25
SAT Range 1270/1510 960/1120
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 5, 2026

Academics

 Illinois William Jewell College
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

 Illinois William Jewell College
Graduation Rate 82% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,500 $48,500
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $211 $258

Diversity

 Illinois William Jewell College
% Men 21% 1%
% Women 16% 1%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 48% 78%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 10% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 6%
% International 16% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 Illinois William Jewell College
% In-State 73% 65%
% Out-of-State 12% 33%

Campus

 Illinois William Jewell College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is larger than than William Jewell College based on total student enrollment (56,563 students vs. 886 students)

Illinois vs. William Jewell College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois or William Jewell College?

  • William Jewell College is 46.3% more expensive to attend than Illinois for in-state tuition ($18,600.00 vs. $12,712.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 67.8% higher at Illinois than William Jewell College ($31,208.00 vs. $18,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign than William Jewell College ($14,297 vs. $17,408)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Jewell College are 22.5% lower than costs at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($11,381 vs. $13,938)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at William Jewell College than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (100% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students is 3.6% larger than aid received William Jewell College ($17,524 vs. $16,922)

Illinois vs. William Jewell College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Illinois or William Jewell College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between William Jewell College or Illinois .

  • The average SAT score at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (1305) is 145 points higher than at William Jewell College (1160)
  • Incoming Illinois students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at William Jewell College (26)
  • Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at William Jewell College (3.61)
  • Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (43.7%) than William Jewell College (34.3%)

Illinois vs. William Jewell College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Illinois or William Jewell College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between William Jewell College and Illinois.

  • The graduation rate at Illinois is higher than William Jewell College (82% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign earn on average $18,000 more per year than William Jewell College graduates after ten years. ($66,500 vs. $48,500)
  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than William Jewell College graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Illinois graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than William Jewell College graduates. ($211 vs. $258)
  • More William Jewell College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Illinois students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 78%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/