Boston University vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Boston University: 12.8% against 42.4% (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).
The share of international students differs sharply: 20.1% (Boston University) against 14.9% (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).
Average aid for an international student is $56,639 (Boston University) and $5,836 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Boston University starts at $94,427 against $57,284 and ends at $25,031 against $34,067 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Boston University is the more selective of the two (12.83% vs 42.37% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #55). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($83K vs $81K). Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $71,372 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Boston University for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Illinois Urbana-Champaign for: a higher world ranking, higher retention, lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Boston University is more selective (12.83% vs 42.37% acceptance).
Boston University graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $81K); Boston University has a higher 6-year graduation rate (88.7% vs 85.1%).
Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $71,372); Boston University offers a larger average aid package ($69,396 vs $23,217).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Boston University | Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #55 |
| Rank · THE | #75 | #46 |
| Acceptance rate | 12.83% | 42.37% |
| Yield rate | 35% | 28.8% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.86 | - |
| Number of applications | 76,776 | 73,742 |
| International students | 20.1% | 14.9% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $83K | $81K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $57K | $55K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $122K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 88.7% | 85.1% |
| Retention rate | 94.2% | 94.8% |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $19,500 |
| Tuition · year | $71,372 | $38,400 |
| Avg. aid package | $69,396 | $23,217 |
| % of need met | 92% | 0.8% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $36,774 | $22,395 |
| Application fee | $80 | $50 |
| Enrollment | 36,977 | 59,238 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Boston University or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
It's harder to get into Boston University. Boston University accepts 12.83% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.
Do Boston University or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $83K at Boston University and $81K at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
How much is tuition at Boston University vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Sticker-price tuition is $71,372 per year at Boston University and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
What SAT score do you need for Boston University or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Boston University and 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Boston University or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Boston University vs #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Which university offers more financial aid - Boston University or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
The average aid package is $69,396 at Boston University and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern