University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

8/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Champaign, IL
4.4 5 reviews

#20 Best Public Universities in America

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

59,238

Location Champaign, Illinois
Website illinois.edu
Type Public 4 Year
Setting Small City

Best Colleges Rank

#117

Size Large
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign spans two adjacent cities in east-central Illinois, approximately 140 miles south of Chicago. The main campus encompasses 1,783 acres featuring both historic quad areas with traditional collegiate Gothic architecture and modern research facilities, including one of the largest public university library systems in the United States. Founded in 1867 as a land-grant institution, UIUC maintains selective undergraduate admission standards and is recognized for its engineering, computer science, and business programs, with particular strength in areas such as electrical engineering and computer science. The university operates as a primarily residential campus with most first-year students required to live in university housing, while its NCAA Division I athletic programs compete in the Big Ten Conference, with a notable tradition in men's basketball and football. The campus is also home to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, which developed the first graphical web browser.

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Ratings

Illinois is rated within the top 22% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 8 out of 10.

Overall Rating

8 out of 10
Academics

10 out of 10
Resources

6 out of 10
Outcomes

9 out of 10
Value

10 out of 10

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Rankings

Rankings for University of Illinois Urbana Champaign within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

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Admissions

Admission Standards

Elite

SAT 1310/1520
ACT 30/34
Estimated GPA 3.79

Acceptance Rate

42.4%

Applications Due Jan 5, 2027
Enrollment Rate 28.8%
Application Fee $50

Applicant Competition Average

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Annual Cost to Attend

Illinois Resident Tuition

$16,004

Out of State Resident Tuition

$35,124

Breakdown

Tuition $16,004
Books and Supplies $1,200
Other Fees $3,292
Room and Board $14,522
Budget for Other Expenses $2,500
Total One Year Cost $37,518

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Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$66,500 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

82% within 6 years

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Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign are Engineering, Business, and Social Sciences. 16% of students major in Engineering, 13% in Business, and 10% in Social Sciences.