

Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Georgetown - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
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
Georgetown is more selective (13.5% vs 42.37% acceptance); Georgetown has a higher median SAT (1480 vs 1470).
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%).
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
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #55 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | #46 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 42.37% | 13.5% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 43.9% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1480 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 73,742 | 26,822 |
| International students | 14.9% | 14.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $81K | $103K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $55K | $67K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $168K |
| Graduation rate | 85.1% | 94.8% |
| Retention rate | 94.8% | 96.3% |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $15,500 |
| Tuition · year | $38,400 | $74,732 |
| Avg. aid package | $23,217 | $63,415 |
| % of need met | 0.8% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,395 | $33,272 |
| Application fee | $50 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 59,238 | 19,905 |
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.
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