Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Binghamton - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The share of international students differs sharply: 14.9% (Illinois Urbana-Champaign) against 4% (Binghamton).
The cheaper tuition belongs to Binghamton: $30,447 against $38,400, or $7,953 less a year.
The higher mid-range SAT belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: 1470 against 1420, a gap of 50 points.
Students admitted to both more often choose Illinois Urbana-Champaign (28.8% enrol, against 15.9%).
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
Binghamton is the more selective of the two (38.61% vs 42.37% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#55 vs #501-600). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($81K vs $81K). Binghamton has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,447 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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign for: a higher world ranking, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Binghamton for: higher selectivity, lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Binghamton is more selective (38.61% vs 42.37% acceptance); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1420).
Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $81K); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.1% vs 81.6%).
Binghamton has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,447 vs $38,400); Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $19,288).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #55 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | #46 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 42.37% | 38.61% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 15.9% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1420 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.88 |
| Number of applications | 73,742 | 53,007 |
| International students | 14.9% | 4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $81K | $81K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $55K | $53K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $114K |
| Graduation rate | 85.1% | 81.6% |
| Retention rate | 94.8% | 89.5% |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $18,500 |
| Tuition · year | $38,400 | $30,447 |
| Avg. aid package | $23,217 | $19,288 |
| % of need met | 0.8% | 74% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,395 | $27,208 |
| Application fee | $50 | $50 |
| Enrollment | 59,238 | 18,815 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Binghamton?
It's harder to get into Binghamton. Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37% of applicants, while Binghamton accepts 38.61%.
Do Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Binghamton graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $81K at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $81K at Binghamton.
How much is tuition at Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Binghamton?
Sticker-price tuition is $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $30,447 per year at Binghamton.
What SAT score do you need for Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Binghamton?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and 1420 at Binghamton; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Binghamton?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs #501-600 for Binghamton.
Which university offers more financial aid - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Binghamton?
The average aid package is $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $19,288 at Binghamton.
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