Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs West Virginia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Illinois Urbana-Champaign admits 42.4% of applicants, while West Virginia admits 89%.
The more international environment is at Illinois Urbana-Champaign (14.9% international students) than West Virginia (1.7%).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: West Virginia awards international students $21,636 on average, Illinois Urbana-Champaign awards $5,836.
The cheaper tuition belongs to West Virginia: $28,608 against $38,400, or $9,792 less a year.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
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 89% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#55 vs #501-600). Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $56K). West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 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 West Virginia 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 89% acceptance); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1110).
Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $56K); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.1% vs 64.7%).
West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $38,400); Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $16,730).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Illinois Urbana-Champaign | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #55 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | #46 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 42.37% | 89% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 26.5% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1110 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.70 |
| Number of applications | 73,742 | 20,150 |
| International students | 14.9% | 1.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $81K | $56K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $55K | $36K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $84K |
| Graduation rate | 85.1% | 64.7% |
| Retention rate | 94.8% | 83.4% |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $22,500 |
| Tuition · year | $38,400 | $28,608 |
| Avg. aid package | $23,217 | $16,730 |
| % of need met | 0.8% | 63% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,395 | $36,010 |
| Application fee | $50 | $65 |
| Enrollment | 59,238 | 23,643 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign or West Virginia?
It's harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37% of applicants, while West Virginia accepts 89%.
Do Illinois Urbana-Champaign or West Virginia graduates earn more?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $56K.
How much is tuition at Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs West Virginia?
Sticker-price tuition is $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $28,608 per year at West Virginia.
What SAT score do you need for Illinois Urbana-Champaign or West Virginia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and 1110 at West Virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or West Virginia?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs #501-600 for West Virginia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or West Virginia?
The average aid package is $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $16,730 at West Virginia.
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