Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Rhode Island - 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: Illinois Urbana-Champaign admits 42.4%, Rhode Island admits 72.2%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 14.9% (Illinois Urbana-Champaign) against 1.2% (Rhode Island).
Average aid for an international student is $26,565 (Rhode Island) and $5,836 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Illinois Urbana-Champaign starts at $57,284 against $54,758 and ends at $34,067 against $37,163 (Rhode Island).
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 72.2% 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 $70K). Rhode Island has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,398 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 Rhode Island for: 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 72.2% acceptance); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1160).
Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $70K); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.1% vs 73.3%).
Rhode Island has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,398 vs $38,400); Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $17,595).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #55 | #801-900 |
| Rank · THE | #46 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 42.37% | 72.2% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 16.4% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1160 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.65 |
| Number of applications | 73,742 | 28,021 |
| International students | 14.9% | 1.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $81K | $70K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $55K | $44K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $102K |
| Graduation rate | 85.1% | 73.3% |
| Retention rate | 94.8% | 85% |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $22,250 |
| Tuition · year | $38,400 | $38,398 |
| Avg. aid package | $23,217 | $17,595 |
| % of need met | 0.8% | 57% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,395 | $42,945 |
| Application fee | $50 | $65 |
| Enrollment | 59,238 | 14,466 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Rhode Island?
It's harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37% of applicants, while Rhode Island accepts 72.2%.
Do Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Rhode Island graduates earn more?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $70K.
How much is tuition at Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Rhode Island?
Sticker-price tuition is $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $38,398 per year at Rhode Island.
What SAT score do you need for Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Rhode Island?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and 1160 at Rhode Island; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Rhode Island?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs #801-900 for Rhode Island.
Which university offers more financial aid - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Rhode Island?
The average aid package is $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $17,595 at Rhode Island.
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