University of Central Florida
ORLANDO, FL
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Central Florida vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - US university comparison

University of Central Florida
CENTRAL FLORIDA
Orlando, FL
World rank · ARWU#401-500
Acceptance44.71%
Median SAT1260
Graduation rate78%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$58K
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Champaign, Illinois
World rank · ARWU#55
Acceptance42.37%
Median SAT1470
Graduation rate85.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$81K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Central Florida University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
#401-500 World rank · ARWU #55
- Rank · THE #46
44.71% Acceptance rate 42.37%
1260 Median SAT 1470
78% Graduation rate 85.1%
69,338 Enrollment 59,238

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

44.71% Acceptance rate 42.37%
33.5% Yield rate 28.8%
1260 Median SAT 1470
4.16 Avg. GPA -
55,135 Number of applications 73,742
3.3% Int'l students 14.9%
$58K Median earnings · 10 yrs $81K
$39K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $55K
$86K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
78% Graduation rate 85.1%
92.3% Retention rate 94.8%
$18,190 Median debt $19,500
$24,076 Tuition · year $38,400
$11,814 Avg. aid package $23,217
65% % of need met 0.8%
$20,529 Avg. graduate debt $22,395
$30 Application fee $50
$928 Avg. int'l aid $5,836
At a glance
Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads in 6 of 11 measured metrics
% of need65% vs 0.8%
Aid$11,814 vs $23,217
Tuition$24,076 vs $38,400

The verdict, from the data

The share of international students differs sharply: 14.9% (Illinois Urbana-Champaign) against 3.3% (Central Florida).

The cheaper tuition belongs to Central Florida: $24,076 against $38,400, or $14,324 less a year.

The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Illinois Urbana-Champaign: $81K against $58K.

210 points separate the SAT profiles: 1470 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign) against 1260.

The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.

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

Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the more selective of the two (42.37% vs 44.71% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#401-500 vs #55). Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $58K). Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $38,400 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 Central Florida for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

Choose Illinois Urbana-Champaign for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Illinois Urbana-Champaign is more selective (42.37% vs 44.71% acceptance); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1260).

Graduate outcomes

Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $58K); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.1% vs 78%).

Cost and aid

Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $38,400); Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $11,814).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kCentral FloridaIllinois Urbana-Champaign TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Central Florida and Illinois Urbana-Champaign highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Central Florida Illinois Urbana-Champaign
World rank · ARWU#401-500#55
Rank · THE-#46
Acceptance rate44.71%42.37%
Yield rate33.5%28.8%
Median SAT12601470
Avg. GPA4.16-
Number of applications55,13573,742
International students3.3%14.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$58K$81K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$39K$55K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$86K$117K
Graduation rate78%85.1%
Retention rate92.3%94.8%
Median debt$18,190$19,500
Tuition · year$24,076$38,400
Avg. aid package$11,814$23,217
% of need met65%0.8%
Avg. graduate debt$20,529$22,395
Application fee$30$50
Enrollment69,33859,238

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Central Florida or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

It's harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Central Florida accepts 44.71% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.

Do Central Florida or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?

Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $58K.

How much is tuition at Central Florida vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

Sticker-price tuition is $24,076 per year at Central Florida and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

What SAT score do you need for Central Florida or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

The median admitted SAT score is 1260 at Central Florida and 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Central Florida or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #401-500 for Central Florida vs #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Which university offers more financial aid - Central Florida or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

The average aid package is $11,814 at Central Florida and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Compare Central Florida with
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Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) - admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "-" = not yet in canonical.