University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
Georgetown University
WASHINGTON, DC
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Georgetown - US university comparison

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
Georgetown University
GEORGETOWN
Washington, DC
World rank · ARWU#501-600
Acceptance13.5%
Median SAT1480
Graduation rate94.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$103K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Georgetown University
#55 World rank · ARWU #501-600
#46 Rank · THE -
42.37% Acceptance rate 13.5%
1470 Median SAT 1480
85.1% Graduation rate 94.8%
59,238 Enrollment 19,905

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

42.37% Acceptance rate 13.5%
28.8% Yield rate 43.9%
1470 Median SAT 1480
- Avg. GPA -
73,742 Number of applications 26,822
14.9% Int'l students 14.4%
$81K Median earnings · 10 yrs $103K
$55K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $67K
$117K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $168K
85.1% Graduation rate 94.8%
94.8% Retention rate 96.3%
$19,500 Median debt $15,500
$38,400 Tuition · year $74,732
$23,217 Avg. aid package $63,415
0.8% % of need met 100%
$22,395 Avg. graduate debt $33,272
$50 Application fee $75
$5,836 Avg. int'l aid $75,050
At a glance
Georgetown leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics
% of need0.8% vs 100%
Acceptance42.37% vs 13.5%
Aid$23,217 vs $63,415

The verdict, from the data

Georgetown admits 13.5% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign admits 42.4%.

Average aid for an international student is $75,050 (Georgetown) and $5,836 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).

On paper the cheaper option is Illinois Urbana-Champaign: $38,400 against $74,732, which is $36,332 less a year.

The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Georgetown: $103K against $81K.

These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.

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

Georgetown is the more selective of the two (13.5% vs 42.37% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#55 vs #501-600). Georgetown graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($103K vs $81K). Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $74,732 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, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

Choose Georgetown for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Georgetown is more selective (13.5% vs 42.37% acceptance); Georgetown has a higher median SAT (1480 vs 1470).

Graduate outcomes

Georgetown graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($103K vs $81K); Georgetown has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.8% vs 85.1%).

Cost and aid

Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $74,732); Georgetown offers a larger average aid package ($63,415 vs $23,217).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Illinois Urbana-Champaign Georgetown
World rank · ARWU#55#501-600
Rank · THE#46-
Acceptance rate42.37%13.5%
Yield rate28.8%43.9%
Median SAT14701480
Avg. GPA--
Number of applications73,74226,822
International students14.9%14.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$81K$103K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$55K$67K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$117K$168K
Graduation rate85.1%94.8%
Retention rate94.8%96.3%
Median debt$19,500$15,500
Tuition · year$38,400$74,732
Avg. aid package$23,217$63,415
% of need met0.8%100%
Avg. graduate debt$22,395$33,272
Application fee$50$75
Enrollment59,23819,905

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

It's harder to get into Georgetown. Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37% of applicants, while Georgetown accepts 13.5%.

Do Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Georgetown graduates earn more?

Georgetown graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $103K vs $81K.

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

Sticker-price tuition is $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $74,732 per year at Georgetown.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and 1480 at Georgetown; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

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

Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs #501-600 for Georgetown.

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

The average aid package is $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $63,415 at Georgetown.

Compare Illinois Urbana-Champaign with
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.