University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
Iowa State University
AMES, IA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Illinois urbana-champaign vs Iowa state — 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
Iowa State University
IOWA STATE
Ames, IA
World rank · ARWU#501-600
Acceptance88.7%
Median SAT1204
Graduation rate75.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$63K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Iowa State University
#55 World rank · ARWU #501-600
#46 Rank · THE —
42.4% Acceptance rate 88.7%
1440 Median SAT 1204
85.1% Graduation rate 75.3%
59,238 Enrollment 30,432

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

42.4% Acceptance rate 88.7%
28.8% Yield rate 28.8%
1440 Median SAT 1204
— Avg. GPA 3.80
73,742 Number of applications 23,095
25% Int'l students 8%
$81K Median earnings · 10 yrs $63K
$71K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $56K
$117K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $90K
85.1% Graduation rate 75.3%
94.8% Retention rate 87.6%
$19,500 Median debt $22,869
$35,124 Tuition · year $28,881
$23,217 Avg. aid package $15,665
0.8% % of need met 78%
$22,395 Avg. graduate debt $29,475
$50 Application fee $40
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Illinois urbana-champaign leads in 8 of 11 measured metrics
% of need0.8% vs 78%
Acceptance42.4% vs 88.7%
Aid$23,217 vs $15,665

EXPERT TAKE

Illinois urbana-champaign is the more selective of the two (42.4% vs 88.7% acceptance). Illinois urbana-champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#55 vs #501-600). Illinois urbana-champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $63K). Iowa state has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $35,124 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 Iowa state for: lower tuition.

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 88.7% acceptance); Illinois urbana-champaign has a higher median SAT (1440 vs 1204).

Graduate outcomes

Illinois urbana-champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $63K); Illinois urbana-champaign has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.1% vs 75.3%).

Cost and aid

Iowa state has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $35,124); Illinois urbana-champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $15,665).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Illinois urbana-champaign Iowa state
World rank · ARWU#55#501-600
Rank · THE#46—
Acceptance rate42.4%88.7%
Yield rate28.8%28.8%
Median SAT14401204
Avg. GPA—3.80
Number of applications73,74223,095
International students25%8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$81K$63K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$71K$56K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$117K$90K
Graduation rate85.1%75.3%
Retention rate94.8%87.6%
Median debt$19,500$22,869
Tuition · year$35,124$28,881
Avg. aid package$23,217$15,665
% of need met0.8%78%
Avg. graduate debt$22,395$29,475
Application fee$50$40
Enrollment59,23830,432

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Illinois urbana-champaign or Iowa state?

It's harder to get into Illinois urbana-champaign. Illinois urbana-champaign accepts 42.4% of applicants, while Iowa state accepts 88.7%.

Do Illinois urbana-champaign or Iowa state graduates earn more?

Illinois urbana-champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $63K.

How much is tuition at Illinois urbana-champaign vs Iowa state?

Sticker-price tuition is $35,124 per year at Illinois urbana-champaign and $28,881 per year at Iowa state.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1440 at Illinois urbana-champaign and 1204 at Iowa state; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Illinois urbana-champaign or Iowa state?

Illinois urbana-champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #55 for Illinois urbana-champaign vs #501-600 for Iowa state.

Which university offers more financial aid — Illinois urbana-champaign or Iowa state?

The average aid package is $23,217 at Illinois urbana-champaign and $15,665 at Iowa state.

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.