University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

North Carolina vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - US university comparison

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NORTH CAROLINA
Chapel Hill, NC
World rank · ARWU#35
Acceptance15.34%
Median SAT1470
Graduation rate91.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K
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

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
#35 World rank · ARWU #55
#70 Rank · THE #46
15.34% Acceptance rate 42.37%
1470 Median SAT 1470
91.2% Graduation rate 85.1%
32,680 Enrollment 59,238

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

15.34% Acceptance rate 42.37%
45.5% Yield rate 28.8%
1470 Median SAT 1470
4.49 Avg. GPA -
66,535 Number of applications 73,742
6.4% Int'l students 14.9%
$72K Median earnings · 10 yrs $81K
$48K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $55K
$112K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
91.2% Graduation rate 85.1%
96.6% Retention rate 94.8%
$14,000 Median debt $19,500
$45,228 Tuition · year $38,400
$20,705 Avg. aid package $23,217
100% % of need met 0.8%
$20,382 Avg. graduate debt $22,395
$85 Application fee $50
- Avg. int'l aid $5,836
At a glance
North Carolina leads in 7 of 11 measured metrics
% of need100% vs 0.8%
Acceptance15.34% vs 42.37%
Yield45.5% vs 28.8%

The verdict, from the data

A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: North Carolina admits 15.3%, Illinois Urbana-Champaign admits 42.4%.

The larger international cohort belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: 14.9% of students against 6.4% (North Carolina).

North Carolina 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.

On both axes at once the winner is Illinois Urbana-Champaign: lower tuition ($38,400 against $45,228) and a higher median salary ($81K against $72K, North Carolina).

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

North Carolina is the more selective of the two (15.34% vs 42.37% acceptance). North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#35 vs #55). Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $72K). Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $45,228 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 North Carolina for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.

Choose Illinois Urbana-Champaign for: higher graduate earnings, lower tuition, a larger aid package.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

North Carolina is more selective (15.34% vs 42.37% acceptance).

Graduate outcomes

Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $72K); North Carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 85.1%).

Cost and aid

Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $45,228); Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $20,705).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric North Carolina Illinois Urbana-Champaign
World rank · ARWU#35#55
Rank · THE#70#46
Acceptance rate15.34%42.37%
Yield rate45.5%28.8%
Median SAT14701470
Avg. GPA4.49-
Number of applications66,53573,742
International students6.4%14.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K$81K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$48K$55K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$112K$117K
Graduation rate91.2%85.1%
Retention rate96.6%94.8%
Median debt$14,000$19,500
Tuition · year$45,228$38,400
Avg. aid package$20,705$23,217
% of need met100%0.8%
Avg. graduate debt$20,382$22,395
Application fee$85$50
Enrollment32,68059,238

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

It's harder to get into North Carolina. North Carolina accepts 15.34% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.

Do North Carolina or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?

Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $72K.

How much is tuition at North Carolina vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

Sticker-price tuition is $45,228 per year at North Carolina and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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

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

Which university ranks higher - North Carolina or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #35 for North Carolina vs #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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

The average aid package is $20,705 at North Carolina and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Compare North Carolina 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.