Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Connecticut - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Illinois Urbana-Champaign admits 42.4% of applicants, while Connecticut admits 52.4%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 14.9% (Illinois Urbana-Champaign) against 7.4% (Connecticut).
Real money goes to international students at Connecticut ($17,282 on average), while Illinois Urbana-Champaign stops at $5,836.
On both axes at once the winner is Illinois Urbana-Champaign: lower tuition ($38,400 against $44,004) and a higher median salary ($81K against $74K, Connecticut).
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
Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the more selective of the two (42.37% vs 52.39% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#55 vs #301-400). Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $74K). Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $44,004 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
Illinois Urbana-Champaign is more selective (42.37% vs 52.39% acceptance); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1340).
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%).
Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $44,004); Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $21,535).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #55 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | #46 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 42.37% | 52.39% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 15.4% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1340 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 73,742 | 55,479 |
| International students | 14.9% | 7.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $81K | $74K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $55K | $50K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $109K |
| Graduation rate | 85.1% | 83.3% |
| Retention rate | 94.8% | 92% |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $21,500 |
| Tuition · year | $38,400 | $44,004 |
| Avg. aid package | $23,217 | $21,535 |
| % of need met | 0.8% | 61.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,395 | $28,506 |
| Application fee | $50 | $80 |
| Enrollment | 59,238 | 28,306 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Connecticut?
It's harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37% of applicants, while Connecticut accepts 52.39%.
Do Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Connecticut graduates earn more?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $74K.
How much is tuition at Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Connecticut?
Sticker-price tuition is $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $44,004 per year at Connecticut.
What SAT score do you need for Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Connecticut?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and 1340 at Connecticut; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Connecticut?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs #301-400 for Connecticut.
Which university offers more financial aid - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Connecticut?
The average aid package is $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $21,535 at Connecticut.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern