Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs NJIT - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: 42.4% against 65.1% (NJIT).
The larger international cohort belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: 14.9% of students against 6.2% (NJIT).
Real money goes to international students at NJIT ($28,025 on average), while Illinois Urbana-Champaign stops at $5,836.
130 points separate the SAT profiles: 1470 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign) against 1340.
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
Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the more selective of the two (42.37% vs 65.08% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#55 vs #701-800). NJIT graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($84K vs $81K). NJIT has lower sticker-price tuition ($37,664 vs $38,400 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, a higher graduation rate.
Choose NJIT for: higher graduate earnings, lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Illinois Urbana-Champaign is more selective (42.37% vs 65.08% acceptance); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1340).
NJIT graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($84K vs $81K); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.1% vs 72.8%).
NJIT has lower sticker-price tuition ($37,664 vs $38,400); Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $18,661).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Illinois Urbana-Champaign | NJIT |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #55 | #701-800 |
| Rank · THE | #46 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 42.37% | 65.08% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 17.2% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1340 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.73 |
| Number of applications | 73,742 | 15,607 |
| International students | 14.9% | 6.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $81K | $84K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $55K | $56K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $113K |
| Graduation rate | 85.1% | 72.8% |
| Retention rate | 94.8% | 90% |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $21,000 |
| Tuition · year | $38,400 | $37,664 |
| Avg. aid package | $23,217 | $18,661 |
| % of need met | 0.8% | 56.8% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,395 | $32,459 |
| Application fee | $50 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 59,238 | 13,247 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign or NJIT?
It's harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37% of applicants, while NJIT accepts 65.08%.
Do Illinois Urbana-Champaign or NJIT graduates earn more?
NJIT graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $84K vs $81K.
How much is tuition at Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs NJIT?
Sticker-price tuition is $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $37,664 per year at NJIT.
What SAT score do you need for Illinois Urbana-Champaign or NJIT?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and 1340 at NJIT; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or NJIT?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs #701-800 for NJIT.
Which university offers more financial aid - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or NJIT?
The average aid package is $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $18,661 at NJIT.
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