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

Georgia vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - US university comparison

University of Georgia
GEORGIA
Athens, GA
World rank · ARWU#401-500
Acceptance37.92%
Median SAT1300
Graduation rate89.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$69K
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 Georgia University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
#401-500 World rank · ARWU #55
- Rank · THE #46
37.92% Acceptance rate 42.37%
1300 Median SAT 1470
89.7% Graduation rate 85.1%
43,146 Enrollment 59,238

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

37.92% Acceptance rate 42.37%
38.3% Yield rate 28.8%
1300 Median SAT 1470
4.15 Avg. GPA -
42,436 Number of applications 73,742
1.1% Int'l students 14.9%
$69K Median earnings · 10 yrs $81K
$45K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $55K
$102K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
89.7% Graduation rate 85.1%
94.3% Retention rate 94.8%
$18,500 Median debt $19,500
$31,678 Tuition · year $38,400
$15,348 Avg. aid package $23,217
73.2% % of need met 0.8%
$20,890 Avg. graduate debt $22,395
$70 Application fee $50
- Avg. int'l aid $5,836
At a glance
Georgia leads in 7 of 11 measured metrics
% of need73.2% vs 0.8%
Aid$15,348 vs $23,217
Yield38.3% vs 28.8%

The verdict, from the data

The larger international cohort belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: 14.9% of students against 1.1% (Georgia).

If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Illinois Urbana-Champaign reports aid for international students ($5,836 on average), Georgia does not.

The tuition gap is $6,722 a year: $31,678 (Georgia) against $38,400.

The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: $81K against $69K.

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

Georgia is the more selective of the two (37.92% vs 42.37% 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 $69K). Georgia has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,678 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 Georgia for: higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate, lower tuition.

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

Admissions

Georgia is more selective (37.92% vs 42.37% acceptance); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1300).

Graduate outcomes

Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $69K); Georgia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (89.7% vs 85.1%).

Cost and aid

Georgia has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,678 vs $38,400); Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $15,348).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Georgia Illinois Urbana-Champaign
World rank · ARWU#401-500#55
Rank · THE-#46
Acceptance rate37.92%42.37%
Yield rate38.3%28.8%
Median SAT13001470
Avg. GPA4.15-
Number of applications42,43673,742
International students1.1%14.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$69K$81K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$45K$55K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$102K$117K
Graduation rate89.7%85.1%
Retention rate94.3%94.8%
Median debt$18,500$19,500
Tuition · year$31,678$38,400
Avg. aid package$15,348$23,217
% of need met73.2%0.8%
Avg. graduate debt$20,890$22,395
Application fee$70$50
Enrollment43,14659,238

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

It's harder to get into Georgia. Georgia accepts 37.92% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.

Do Georgia or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?

Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $69K.

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

Sticker-price tuition is $31,678 per year at Georgia and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1300 at Georgia and 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

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

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

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

The average aid package is $15,348 at Georgia and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Compare Georgia 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.