University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Illinois urbana-champaign vs North carolina — 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NORTH CAROLINA
Chapel Hill, NC
World rank · ARWU#35
Acceptance15.3%
Median SAT1439
Graduation rate91.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
#55 World rank · ARWU #35
#46 Rank · THE #70
42.4% Acceptance rate 15.3%
1440 Median SAT 1439
85.1% Graduation rate 91.2%
59,238 Enrollment 32,680

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

42.4% Acceptance rate 15.3%
28.8% Yield rate 45.5%
1440 Median SAT 1439
— Avg. GPA 4.50
73,742 Number of applications 66,535
25% Int'l students 9%
$81K Median earnings · 10 yrs $72K
$71K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $69K
$117K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $112K
85.1% Graduation rate 91.2%
94.8% Retention rate 96.6%
$19,500 Median debt $14,000
$35,124 Tuition · year $41,203
$23,217 Avg. aid package $20,705
0.8% % of need met 100%
$22,395 Avg. graduate debt $20,382
$50 Application fee $85
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
North carolina leads in 7 of 11 measured metrics
% of need0.8% vs 100%
Acceptance42.4% vs 15.3%
Yield28.8% vs 45.5%

EXPERT TAKE

North carolina is the more selective of the two (15.3% vs 42.4% acceptance). North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#55 vs #35). Illinois urbana-champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $72K). Illinois urbana-champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($35,124 vs $41,203 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: higher graduate earnings, lower tuition, a larger aid package.

Choose North carolina for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

North carolina is more selective (15.3% vs 42.4% acceptance); Illinois urbana-champaign has a higher median SAT (1440 vs 1439).

Graduate outcomes

Illinois urbana-champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $72K); North carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 85.1%).

Cost and aid

Illinois urbana-champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($35,124 vs $41,203); Illinois urbana-champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $20,705).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Illinois urbana-champaign North carolina
World rank · ARWU#55#35
Rank · THE#46#70
Acceptance rate42.4%15.3%
Yield rate28.8%45.5%
Median SAT14401439
Avg. GPA—4.50
Number of applications73,74266,535
International students25%9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$81K$72K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$71K$69K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$117K$112K
Graduation rate85.1%91.2%
Retention rate94.8%96.6%
Median debt$19,500$14,000
Tuition · year$35,124$41,203
Avg. aid package$23,217$20,705
% of need met0.8%100%
Avg. graduate debt$22,395$20,382
Application fee$50$85
Enrollment59,23832,680

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Illinois urbana-champaign or North carolina?

It's harder to get into North carolina. Illinois urbana-champaign accepts 42.4% of applicants, while North carolina accepts 15.3%.

Do Illinois urbana-champaign or North carolina graduates earn more?

Illinois urbana-champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $72K.

How much is tuition at Illinois urbana-champaign vs North carolina?

Sticker-price tuition is $35,124 per year at Illinois urbana-champaign and $41,203 per year at North carolina.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1440 at Illinois urbana-champaign and 1439 at North carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Illinois urbana-champaign or North carolina?

North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #55 for Illinois urbana-champaign vs #35 for North carolina.

Which university offers more financial aid — Illinois urbana-champaign or North carolina?

The average aid package is $23,217 at Illinois urbana-champaign and $20,705 at North carolina.

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.