University of Connecticut
STORRS, CT
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Connecticut vs Illinois urbana-champaign — US university comparison

University of Connecticut
CONNECTICUT
Storrs, CT
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance52.4%
Median SAT1348
Graduation rate83.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$74K
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Champaign, Illinois
World rank · ARWU#55
Acceptance42.4%
Median SAT1440
Graduation rate85.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$81K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Connecticut University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
#301-400 World rank · ARWU #55
— Rank · THE #46
52.4% Acceptance rate 42.4%
1348 Median SAT 1440
83.3% Graduation rate 85.1%
28,306 Enrollment 59,238

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

52.4% Acceptance rate 42.4%
15.4% Yield rate 28.8%
1348 Median SAT 1440
— Avg. GPA —
55,479 Number of applications 73,742
11% Int'l students 25%
$74K Median earnings · 10 yrs $81K
$66K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $71K
$109K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
83.3% Graduation rate 85.1%
92% Retention rate 94.8%
$21,500 Median debt $19,500
$43,712 Tuition · year $35,124
$21,535 Avg. aid package $23,217
61.6% % of need met 0.8%
$28,506 Avg. graduate debt $22,395
$80 Application fee $50
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Illinois urbana-champaign leads in 10 of 11 measured metrics
% of need61.6% vs 0.8%
Yield15.4% vs 28.8%
Grad. debt$28,506 vs $22,395

EXPERT TAKE

Illinois urbana-champaign is the more selective of the two (42.4% vs 52.4% 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 $74K). Illinois urbana-champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($35,124 vs $43,712 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 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 (42.4% vs 52.4% acceptance); Illinois urbana-champaign has a higher median SAT (1440 vs 1348).

Graduate outcomes

Illinois urbana-champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $74K); Illinois urbana-champaign has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.1% vs 83.3%).

Cost and aid

Illinois urbana-champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($35,124 vs $43,712); Illinois urbana-champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $21,535).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kConnecticutIllinois urbana-champaign TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Connecticut and Illinois urbana-champaign highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Connecticut Illinois urbana-champaign
World rank · ARWU#301-400#55
Rank · THE—#46
Acceptance rate52.4%42.4%
Yield rate15.4%28.8%
Median SAT13481440
Avg. GPA——
Number of applications55,47973,742
International students11%25%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$74K$81K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$66K$71K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$109K$117K
Graduation rate83.3%85.1%
Retention rate92%94.8%
Median debt$21,500$19,500
Tuition · year$43,712$35,124
Avg. aid package$21,535$23,217
% of need met61.6%0.8%
Avg. graduate debt$28,506$22,395
Application fee$80$50
Enrollment28,30659,238

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Connecticut or Illinois urbana-champaign?

It's harder to get into Illinois urbana-champaign. Connecticut accepts 52.4% of applicants, while Illinois urbana-champaign accepts 42.4%.

Do Connecticut or Illinois urbana-champaign graduates earn more?

Illinois urbana-champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $74K.

How much is tuition at Connecticut vs Illinois urbana-champaign?

Sticker-price tuition is $43,712 per year at Connecticut and $35,124 per year at Illinois urbana-champaign.

What SAT score do you need for Connecticut or Illinois urbana-champaign?

The median admitted SAT score is 1348 at Connecticut and 1440 at Illinois urbana-champaign; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Connecticut or Illinois urbana-champaign?

Illinois urbana-champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Connecticut vs #55 for Illinois urbana-champaign.

Which university offers more financial aid — Connecticut or Illinois urbana-champaign?

The average aid package is $21,535 at Connecticut and $23,217 at Illinois urbana-champaign.

Compare Connecticut with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns hopkins Washington university Northwestern
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.