Brandeis vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Real money goes to international students at Brandeis ($56,730 on average), while Illinois Urbana-Champaign stops at $5,836.
The tuition gap is $32,557 a year: $38,400 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign) against $70,957.
On SAT scores this is the same calibre of applicant: 1460 and 1470.
More than twice the application volume goes to Illinois Urbana-Champaign (73,742 against 10,462), which changes how any single file is read.
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
Brandeis is the more selective of the two (40.47% vs 42.37% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #55). Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $77K). Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $70,957 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 Brandeis for: higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate, a larger aid package.
Choose Illinois Urbana-Champaign for: a higher world ranking, higher graduate earnings, higher retention.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Brandeis is more selective (40.47% vs 42.37% acceptance); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1460).
Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $77K); Brandeis has a higher 6-year graduation rate (86% vs 85.1%).
Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $70,957); Brandeis offers a larger average aid package ($57,507 vs $23,217).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Brandeis | Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #55 |
| Rank · THE | - | #46 |
| Acceptance rate | 40.47% | 42.37% |
| Yield rate | 17.5% | 28.8% |
| Median SAT | 1460 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.90 | - |
| Number of applications | 10,462 | 73,742 |
| International students | 19.3% | 14.9% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $77K | $81K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $52K | $55K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 86% | 85.1% |
| Retention rate | 87% | 94.8% |
| Median debt | $25,648 | $19,500 |
| Tuition · year | $70,957 | $38,400 |
| Avg. aid package | $57,507 | $23,217 |
| % of need met | 94.5% | 0.8% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,004 | $22,395 |
| Application fee | $80 | $50 |
| Enrollment | 5,205 | 59,238 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Brandeis or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
It's harder to get into Brandeis. Brandeis accepts 40.47% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.
Do Brandeis or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $77K.
How much is tuition at Brandeis vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Sticker-price tuition is $70,957 per year at Brandeis and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
What SAT score do you need for Brandeis or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
The median admitted SAT score is 1460 at Brandeis and 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Brandeis or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Brandeis vs #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Which university offers more financial aid - Brandeis or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
The average aid package is $57,507 at Brandeis and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
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