Emory University
ATLANTA, GA
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Emory vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - US university comparison

Emory University
EMORY
Atlanta, GA
World rank · ARWU#101-150
Acceptance10.29%
Median SAT1510
Graduation rate91.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$80K
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

Emory University University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
#101-150 World rank · ARWU #55
- Rank · THE #46
10.29% Acceptance rate 42.37%
1510 Median SAT 1470
91.1% Graduation rate 85.1%
15,179 Enrollment 59,238

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

10.29% Acceptance rate 42.37%
40.4% Yield rate 28.8%
1510 Median SAT 1470
3.84 Avg. GPA -
34,614 Number of applications 73,742
16.7% Int'l students 14.9%
$80K Median earnings · 10 yrs $81K
$58K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $55K
$120K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
91.1% Graduation rate 85.1%
96% Retention rate 94.8%
$18,250 Median debt $19,500
$68,056 Tuition · year $38,400
$67,329 Avg. aid package $23,217
99.9% % of need met 0.8%
$24,562 Avg. graduate debt $22,395
$75 Application fee $50
$54,457 Avg. int'l aid $5,836
At a glance
Emory leads in 8 of 11 measured metrics
% of need99.9% vs 0.8%
Acceptance10.29% vs 42.37%
Aid$67,329 vs $23,217

The verdict, from the data

The lower acceptance rate belongs to Emory: 10.3% against 42.4% (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).

Average aid for an international student is $54,457 (Emory) and $5,836 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).

The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Emory starts at $90,574 against $57,284 and ends at $23,245 against $34,067 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).

Candidates with higher SAT scores go to Emory: a midpoint of 1510 against 1470, a difference of 40 points.

These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.

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

Emory is the more selective of the two (10.29% 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 ($80K vs $81K). Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $68,056 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 Emory for: higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.

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

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Emory is more selective (10.29% vs 42.37% acceptance); Emory has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1470).

Graduate outcomes

Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $80K); Emory has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.1% vs 85.1%).

Cost and aid

Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $68,056); Emory offers a larger average aid package ($67,329 vs $23,217).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Emory Illinois Urbana-Champaign
World rank · ARWU#101-150#55
Rank · THE-#46
Acceptance rate10.29%42.37%
Yield rate40.4%28.8%
Median SAT15101470
Avg. GPA3.84-
Number of applications34,61473,742
International students16.7%14.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$80K$81K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$58K$55K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$120K$117K
Graduation rate91.1%85.1%
Retention rate96%94.8%
Median debt$18,250$19,500
Tuition · year$68,056$38,400
Avg. aid package$67,329$23,217
% of need met99.9%0.8%
Avg. graduate debt$24,562$22,395
Application fee$75$50
Enrollment15,17959,238

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

It's harder to get into Emory. Emory accepts 10.29% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.

Do Emory or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?

Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $80K at Emory and $81K at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

How much is tuition at Emory vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

Sticker-price tuition is $68,056 per year at Emory and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Emory and 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Emory or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Emory vs #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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

The average aid package is $67,329 at Emory and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Compare Emory 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.