University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
Old Dominion University
NORFOLK, VA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Old Dominion - US university comparison

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Champaign, Illinois
World rank · ARWU#55
Acceptance42.37%
Median SAT1470
Graduation rate85.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$81K
Old Dominion University
OLD DOMINION
Norfolk, VA
World rank · ARWU#801-900
Acceptance90.4%
Median SAT1197
Graduation rate46.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$55K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Old Dominion University
#55 World rank · ARWU #801-900
#46 Rank · THE -
42.37% Acceptance rate 90.4%
1470 Median SAT 1197
85.1% Graduation rate 46.3%
59,238 Enrollment 23,743

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

42.37% Acceptance rate 90.4%
28.8% Yield rate 19.9%
1470 Median SAT 1197
- Avg. GPA 3.45
73,742 Number of applications 15,100
14.9% Int'l students 1.3%
$81K Median earnings · 10 yrs $55K
$55K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $37K
$117K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $80K
85.1% Graduation rate 46.3%
94.8% Retention rate 77%
$19,500 Median debt $24,000
$38,400 Tuition · year $33,885
$23,217 Avg. aid package $30,437
0.8% % of need met 53%
$22,395 Avg. graduate debt $32,043
$50 Application fee $50
$5,836 Avg. int'l aid $16,000
At a glance
Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads in 8 of 11 measured metrics
% of need0.8% vs 53%
Acceptance42.37% vs 90.4%
Graduation85.1% vs 46.3%

The verdict, from the data

The lower acceptance rate belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: 42.4% against 90.4% (Old Dominion).

The share of international students differs sharply: 14.9% (Illinois Urbana-Champaign) against 1.3% (Old Dominion).

Average aid for an international student is $16,000 (Old Dominion) and $5,836 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).

The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: $81K against $55K.

None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.

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 90.4% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#55 vs #801-900). Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $55K). Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 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, higher graduate earnings.

Choose Old Dominion for: lower tuition, a larger aid package.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Illinois Urbana-Champaign is more selective (42.37% vs 90.4% acceptance); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1197).

Graduate outcomes

Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $55K); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.1% vs 46.3%).

Cost and aid

Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 vs $38,400); Old Dominion offers a larger average aid package ($30,437 vs $23,217).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kIllinois Urbana-ChampaignOld Dominion TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Old Dominion highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Illinois Urbana-Champaign Old Dominion
World rank · ARWU#55#801-900
Rank · THE#46-
Acceptance rate42.37%90.4%
Yield rate28.8%19.9%
Median SAT14701197
Avg. GPA-3.45
Number of applications73,74215,100
International students14.9%1.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$81K$55K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$55K$37K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$117K$80K
Graduation rate85.1%46.3%
Retention rate94.8%77%
Median debt$19,500$24,000
Tuition · year$38,400$33,885
Avg. aid package$23,217$30,437
% of need met0.8%53%
Avg. graduate debt$22,395$32,043
Application fee$50$50
Enrollment59,23823,743

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Old Dominion?

It's harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37% of applicants, while Old Dominion accepts 90.4%.

Do Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Old Dominion graduates earn more?

Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $55K.

How much is tuition at Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Old Dominion?

Sticker-price tuition is $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $33,885 per year at Old Dominion.

What SAT score do you need for Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Old Dominion?

The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and 1197 at Old Dominion; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Old Dominion?

Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs #801-900 for Old Dominion.

Which university offers more financial aid - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Old Dominion?

The average aid package is $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $30,437 at Old Dominion.

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.