Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Virginia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Virginia: 16.8% against 42.4% (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).
The more international environment is at Illinois Urbana-Champaign (14.9% international students) than Virginia (4.9%).
Virginia 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.
The cheaper tuition belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: $38,400 against $62,923, or $24,523 less a year.
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
Virginia is the more selective of the two (16.81% vs 42.37% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#55 vs #201-300). Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $81K). Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $62,923 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, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Virginia for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Virginia is more selective (16.81% vs 42.37% acceptance).
Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $81K); Virginia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.6% vs 85.1%).
Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $62,923); Virginia offers a larger average aid package ($37,123 vs $23,217).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #55 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | #46 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 42.37% | 16.81% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 40% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 73,742 | 58,951 |
| International students | 14.9% | 4.9% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $81K | $87K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $55K | $59K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $130K |
| Graduation rate | 85.1% | 95.6% |
| Retention rate | 94.8% | 97.9% |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $38,400 | $62,923 |
| Avg. aid package | $23,217 | $37,123 |
| % of need met | 0.8% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,395 | $25,137 |
| Application fee | $50 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 59,238 | 26,470 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Virginia?
It's harder to get into Virginia. Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37% of applicants, while Virginia accepts 16.81%.
Do Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Virginia graduates earn more?
Virginia graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $87K vs $81K.
How much is tuition at Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Virginia?
Sticker-price tuition is $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $62,923 per year at Virginia.
What SAT score do you need for Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Virginia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and 1470 at Virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Virginia?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs #201-300 for Virginia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Virginia?
The average aid package is $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $37,123 at Virginia.
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