Old Dominion vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: 42.4% against 90.4% (Old Dominion).
The share of international students differs sharply: 14.9% (Illinois Urbana-Champaign) against 1.3% (Old Dominion).
Average aid for an international student is $16,000 (Old Dominion) and $5,836 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: $81K against $55K.
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 90.4% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#801-900 vs #55). Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $55K). Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 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 Old Dominion for: lower tuition, a larger aid package.
Choose Illinois Urbana-Champaign for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Illinois Urbana-Champaign is more selective (42.37% vs 90.4% acceptance); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1197).
Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $55K); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.1% vs 46.3%).
Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 vs $38,400); Old Dominion offers a larger average aid package ($30,437 vs $23,217).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Old Dominion | Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #801-900 | #55 |
| Rank · THE | - | #46 |
| Acceptance rate | 90.4% | 42.37% |
| Yield rate | 19.9% | 28.8% |
| Median SAT | 1197 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.45 | - |
| Number of applications | 15,100 | 73,742 |
| International students | 1.3% | 14.9% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $55K | $81K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $37K | $55K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $80K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 46.3% | 85.1% |
| Retention rate | 77% | 94.8% |
| Median debt | $24,000 | $19,500 |
| Tuition · year | $33,885 | $38,400 |
| Avg. aid package | $30,437 | $23,217 |
| % of need met | 53% | 0.8% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,043 | $22,395 |
| Application fee | $50 | $50 |
| Enrollment | 23,743 | 59,238 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Old Dominion or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
It's harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Old Dominion accepts 90.4% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.
Do Old Dominion or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $55K.
How much is tuition at Old Dominion vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Sticker-price tuition is $33,885 per year at Old Dominion and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
What SAT score do you need for Old Dominion or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
The median admitted SAT score is 1197 at Old Dominion and 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Old Dominion or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #801-900 for Old Dominion vs #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Which university offers more financial aid - Old Dominion or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
The average aid package is $30,437 at Old Dominion and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
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