Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Central Florida - 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 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 (#55 vs #401-500). 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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Central Florida for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Illinois Urbana-Champaign is more selective (42.37% vs 44.71% acceptance); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1260).
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%).
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
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Central Florida |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #55 | #401-500 |
| Rank · THE | #46 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 42.37% | 44.71% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 33.5% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1260 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 4.16 |
| Number of applications | 73,742 | 55,135 |
| International students | 14.9% | 3.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $81K | $58K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $55K | $39K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $86K |
| Graduation rate | 85.1% | 78% |
| Retention rate | 94.8% | 92.3% |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $18,190 |
| Tuition · year | $38,400 | $24,076 |
| Avg. aid package | $23,217 | $11,814 |
| % of need met | 0.8% | 65% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,395 | $20,529 |
| Application fee | $50 | $30 |
| Enrollment | 59,238 | 69,338 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Central Florida?
It's harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37% of applicants, while Central Florida accepts 44.71%.
Do Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Central Florida graduates earn more?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $58K.
How much is tuition at Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Central Florida?
Sticker-price tuition is $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $24,076 per year at Central Florida.
What SAT score do you need for Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Central Florida?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and 1260 at Central Florida; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Central Florida?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs #401-500 for Central Florida.
Which university offers more financial aid - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Central Florida?
The average aid package is $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $11,814 at Central Florida.
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