University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL 61820-5711
About University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a public research university in Champaign, Illinois, enrolling about 36,258 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 42.37% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $81,054 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign charges about 2.9× the national public median tuition ($16,004).
- Versus the Illinois median, sticker tuition is 21% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 85.13%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $81,054.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1312% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 178 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $16,004 | $14,355 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Illinois (state median) | $13,248 | $7,399 | 131 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 10% below published tuition at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Key findings
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's average net price ($14,355) is 10% below published tuition ($16,004).
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign charges about 2.9× the national public median tuition ($16,004).
- Versus the Illinois median, sticker tuition is 21% above.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $16,004
Finding University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign charges about 2.9× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $16,004. That is about 2.9× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Illinois median ($13,248), sticker tuition is 21% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 34% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is $14,355.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $14,355 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $6,956 above the Illinois median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $616 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 10% lower after grants and scholarships.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$16,004
Out-of-state tuition
$35,124
Avg. net price
$14,355
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $2,038 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $5,373 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $7,982 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $15,152 |
| $110,001+ | $28,761 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $64,016. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is known for
Top program completions
- Computer Science1,555
- Business Administration and Management, General1,499
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other1,042
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other681
- Information Science/Studies500
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 28% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1440
- Midpoint ACT: 32
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Campus
Location
Champaign, IL
City / state
- ZIP
- 61820-5711
- NCES locale
- Town
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 4% below the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Great Lakes
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
36,258
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 39,109
- Graduate
- 22,098
- Full-time share
- 98%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$19,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 23.41%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $14,750 | $29,132 | $18,798 |
| 2014 | $15,020 | $29,646 | $18,375 |
| 2015 | $15,054 | $30,214 | $18,143 |
| 2016 | $15,058 | $30,680 | $18,243 |
| 2017 | $15,074 | $31,194 | $18,377 |
| 2018 | $15,094 | $31,664 | $17,302 |
| 2019 | $15,122 | $32,264 | $15,880 |
| 2020 | $15,150 | $32,600 | $14,321 |
| 2021 | $15,442 | $32,892 | $15,483 |
| 2022 | $15,714 | $33,686 | $16,109 |
| 2023 | $16,004 | $34,501 | $15,201 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1440 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 32 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.80
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign reported total enrollment of about 36,258 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 52% male and 48% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (37.5%), Asian (23.1%), and Hispanic or Latino (14.4%). About 23.41% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 24.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
98.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2024 is 36,258 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 39,109 students. Graduate enrollment is about 22,098 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
94.8%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
73.21% 100% Completion Time
85.13% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 73.21% of students graduating from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Computer Science: 76% male / 24% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 68% male / 32% female
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other: 48% male / 52% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a median of $81,054 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $81,054. Median federal loan debt: $19,500. Average net price used in cost models: $14,355.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates report median earnings of $81,054 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (178 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$2.51B
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Illinois median 88× the median ($28.5M)
- Great Lakes median 79× the median ($31.8M)
- U.S. median 95× the median ($26.4M)
- Illinois median 2.8× the median ($15,173)
- Great Lakes median 2.6× the median ($16,690)
- U.S. median 3.5× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 72.8%
- Illinois median 22.0 pp above median (50.8%)
- Great Lakes median 14.7 pp above median (58.1%)
- U.S. median 14.8 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $14,464
- Illinois median 1.7× the median ($8,563)
- Great Lakes median 1.8× the median ($8,046)
- U.S. median 1.9× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $14,929
- Illinois median 2.0× the median ($7,575)
- Great Lakes median 1.9× the median ($7,690)
- U.S. median 2.0× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign at a glance
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public institution in Champaign, IL, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Computer ScienceBusiness Administration and Management, GeneralManagement Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian37.5%Asian23.1%Hispanic or Latino14.4%
Schools near University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Other campuses in Champaign, IL when available, plus nearby institutions in Illinois.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade A) within Illinois, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is UIUC located?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, IL. The institution is also known as UIUC.
What is UIUC's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is 42.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 67,398 applicants and 29,446 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is UIUC's tuition?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $16,004 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $14,355 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does UIUC cost?
Reported tuition is $16,004 and average net price is $14,355 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,522 annually.
Why is UIUC's net price so much lower than tuition?
At University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, published tuition is $16,004 while average net price is $14,355—about 10% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains UIUC's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($14,355), completion (85.1% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($81,054). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at UIUC?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign reports undergraduate enrollment of about 39,109 students, White (37.5%), Asian (23.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend UIUC?
About 24.9% of students at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign reports midpoint SAT about 1440 and midpoint ACT about 32.
What do graduates of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earn?
Median earnings are $64,802 six years after entry and $81,054 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
The 150%-time completion rate is 85.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $19,500.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Illinois college profile
- Illinois college costs
- Illinois colleges by ROI
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs University of Illinois Chicago vs Northwestern University
- Champaign, Illinois city profile
- Great Lakes regional profile
- Town college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Illinois
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.