University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
University of Connecticut
STORRS, CT
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Illinois urbana-champaign vs Connecticut — US university comparison

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Champaign, Illinois
World rank · ARWU#55
Acceptance42.4%
Median SAT1440
Graduation rate85.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$81K
University of Connecticut
CONNECTICUT
Storrs, CT
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance52.4%
Median SAT1348
Graduation rate83.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$74K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Connecticut
#55 World rank · ARWU #301-400
#46 Rank · THE —
42.4% Acceptance rate 52.4%
1440 Median SAT 1348
85.1% Graduation rate 83.3%
59,238 Enrollment 28,306

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

42.4% Acceptance rate 52.4%
28.8% Yield rate 15.4%
1440 Median SAT 1348
— Avg. GPA —
73,742 Number of applications 55,479
25% Int'l students 11%
$81K Median earnings · 10 yrs $74K
$71K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $66K
$117K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $109K
85.1% Graduation rate 83.3%
94.8% Retention rate 92%
$19,500 Median debt $21,500
$35,124 Tuition · year $43,712
$23,217 Avg. aid package $21,535
0.8% % of need met 61.6%
$22,395 Avg. graduate debt $28,506
$50 Application fee $80
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Illinois urbana-champaign leads in 10 of 11 measured metrics
% of need0.8% vs 61.6%
Yield28.8% vs 15.4%
Grad. debt$22,395 vs $28,506

EXPERT TAKE

Illinois urbana-champaign is the more selective of the two (42.4% vs 52.4% 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 ($35,124 vs $43,712 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

Admissions

Illinois urbana-champaign is more selective (42.4% vs 52.4% acceptance); Illinois urbana-champaign has a higher median SAT (1440 vs 1348).

Graduate outcomes

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%).

Cost and aid

Illinois urbana-champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($35,124 vs $43,712); Illinois urbana-champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $21,535).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kIllinois urbana-champaignConnecticut TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Illinois urbana-champaign and Connecticut highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Illinois urbana-champaign Connecticut
World rank · ARWU#55#301-400
Rank · THE#46—
Acceptance rate42.4%52.4%
Yield rate28.8%15.4%
Median SAT14401348
Avg. GPA——
Number of applications73,74255,479
International students25%11%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$81K$74K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$71K$66K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$117K$109K
Graduation rate85.1%83.3%
Retention rate94.8%92%
Median debt$19,500$21,500
Tuition · year$35,124$43,712
Avg. aid package$23,217$21,535
% of need met0.8%61.6%
Avg. graduate debt$22,395$28,506
Application fee$50$80
Enrollment59,23828,306

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 42.4% of applicants, while Connecticut accepts 52.4%.

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 $35,124 per year at Illinois urbana-champaign and $43,712 per year at Connecticut.

What SAT score do you need for Illinois urbana-champaign or Connecticut?

The median admitted SAT score is 1440 at Illinois urbana-champaign and 1348 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.

Compare Illinois urbana-champaign with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns hopkins Washington university Northwestern
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.