New Jersey Institute of Technology
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

NJIT vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - US university comparison

New Jersey Institute of Technology
NJIT
Newark, New Jersey
World rank · ARWU#701-800
Acceptance65.08%
Median SAT1340
Graduation rate72.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$84K
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
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

New Jersey Institute of Technology University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
#701-800 World rank · ARWU #55
- Rank · THE #46
65.08% Acceptance rate 42.37%
1340 Median SAT 1470
72.8% Graduation rate 85.1%
13,247 Enrollment 59,238

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

65.08% Acceptance rate 42.37%
17.2% Yield rate 28.8%
1340 Median SAT 1470
3.73 Avg. GPA -
15,607 Number of applications 73,742
6.2% Int'l students 14.9%
$84K Median earnings · 10 yrs $81K
$56K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $55K
$113K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
72.8% Graduation rate 85.1%
90% Retention rate 94.8%
$21,000 Median debt $19,500
$37,664 Tuition · year $38,400
$18,661 Avg. aid package $23,217
56.8% % of need met 0.8%
$32,459 Avg. graduate debt $22,395
$75 Application fee $50
$28,025 Avg. int'l aid $5,836
At a glance
Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads in 8 of 11 measured metrics
% of need56.8% vs 0.8%
Yield17.2% vs 28.8%
Acceptance65.08% vs 42.37%

The verdict, from the data

The lower acceptance rate belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: 42.4% against 65.1% (NJIT).

The larger international cohort belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: 14.9% of students against 6.2% (NJIT).

Real money goes to international students at NJIT ($28,025 on average), while Illinois Urbana-Champaign stops at $5,836.

130 points separate the SAT profiles: 1470 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign) against 1340.

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

Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the more selective of the two (42.37% vs 65.08% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#701-800 vs #55). NJIT graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($84K vs $81K). NJIT has lower sticker-price tuition ($37,664 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 NJIT for: higher graduate earnings, lower tuition.

Choose Illinois Urbana-Champaign 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

Admissions

Illinois Urbana-Champaign is more selective (42.37% vs 65.08% acceptance); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1340).

Graduate outcomes

NJIT graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($84K vs $81K); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.1% vs 72.8%).

Cost and aid

NJIT has lower sticker-price tuition ($37,664 vs $38,400); Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $18,661).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric NJIT Illinois Urbana-Champaign
World rank · ARWU#701-800#55
Rank · THE-#46
Acceptance rate65.08%42.37%
Yield rate17.2%28.8%
Median SAT13401470
Avg. GPA3.73-
Number of applications15,60773,742
International students6.2%14.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$84K$81K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$56K$55K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$113K$117K
Graduation rate72.8%85.1%
Retention rate90%94.8%
Median debt$21,000$19,500
Tuition · year$37,664$38,400
Avg. aid package$18,661$23,217
% of need met56.8%0.8%
Avg. graduate debt$32,459$22,395
Application fee$75$50
Enrollment13,24759,238

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

It's harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign. NJIT accepts 65.08% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.

Do NJIT or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?

NJIT graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $84K vs $81K.

How much is tuition at NJIT vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

Sticker-price tuition is $37,664 per year at NJIT and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1340 at NJIT and 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - NJIT or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #701-800 for NJIT vs #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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

The average aid package is $18,661 at NJIT and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Compare NJIT with
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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.