Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs North Carolina - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: North Carolina admits 15.3%, Illinois Urbana-Champaign admits 42.4%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: 14.9% of students against 6.4% (North Carolina).
North Carolina reports no financial aid for international students, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign awards them $5,836 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
On both axes at once the winner is Illinois Urbana-Champaign: lower tuition ($38,400 against $45,228) and a higher median salary ($81K against $72K, North Carolina).
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
North Carolina is the more selective of the two (15.34% vs 42.37% 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 ($38,400 vs $45,228 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
North Carolina is more selective (15.34% vs 42.37% acceptance).
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%).
Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $45,228); Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $20,705).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Illinois Urbana-Champaign | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #55 | #35 |
| Rank · THE | #46 | #70 |
| Acceptance rate | 42.37% | 15.34% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 45.5% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 4.49 |
| Number of applications | 73,742 | 66,535 |
| International students | 14.9% | 6.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $81K | $72K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $55K | $48K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $112K |
| Graduation rate | 85.1% | 91.2% |
| Retention rate | 94.8% | 96.6% |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $38,400 | $45,228 |
| Avg. aid package | $23,217 | $20,705 |
| % of need met | 0.8% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,395 | $20,382 |
| Application fee | $50 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 59,238 | 32,680 |
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 42.37% of applicants, while North Carolina accepts 15.34%.
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 $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $45,228 per year at North Carolina.
What SAT score do you need for Illinois Urbana-Champaign or North Carolina?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and 1470 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.
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