University of Rochester
ROCHESTER, NY
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rochester vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - US university comparison

University of Rochester
ROCHESTER
Rochester, NY
World rank · ARWU#151-200
Acceptance40.08%
Median SAT1470
Graduation rate85.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$79K
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 Rochester University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
#151-200 World rank · ARWU #55
#127 Rank · THE #46
40.08% Acceptance rate 42.37%
1470 Median SAT 1470
85.4% Graduation rate 85.1%
11,946 Enrollment 59,238

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

40.08% Acceptance rate 42.37%
15.4% Yield rate 28.8%
1470 Median SAT 1470
3.72 Avg. GPA -
21,384 Number of applications 73,742
22.1% Int'l students 14.9%
$79K Median earnings · 10 yrs $81K
$50K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $55K
$117K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
85.4% Graduation rate 85.1%
90.7% Retention rate 94.8%
$21,000 Median debt $19,500
$70,284 Tuition · year $38,400
$60,879 Avg. aid package $23,217
96.1% % of need met 0.8%
$32,304 Avg. graduate debt $22,395
$50 Application fee $50
$41,269 Avg. int'l aid $5,836
At a glance
Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads in 6 of 11 measured metrics
% of need96.1% vs 0.8%
Aid$60,879 vs $23,217
Yield15.4% vs 28.8%

The verdict, from the data

The more international environment is at Rochester (22.1% international students) than Illinois Urbana-Champaign (14.9%).

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Rochester awards international students $41,269 on average, Illinois Urbana-Champaign awards $5,836.

The tuition gap is $31,884 a year: $38,400 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign) against $70,284.

The SAT profile is practically identical (1470 against 1470), so a test score will not tip the balance either way.

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

Rochester is the more selective of the two (40.08% vs 42.37% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #55). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($79K vs $81K). Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $70,284 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 Rochester for: higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate, a larger aid package.

Choose Illinois Urbana-Champaign for: a higher world ranking, higher graduate earnings, higher retention.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Rochester is more selective (40.08% vs 42.37% acceptance).

Graduate outcomes

Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $79K); Rochester has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.4% vs 85.1%).

Cost and aid

Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $70,284); Rochester offers a larger average aid package ($60,879 vs $23,217).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Rochester Illinois Urbana-Champaign
World rank · ARWU#151-200#55
Rank · THE#127#46
Acceptance rate40.08%42.37%
Yield rate15.4%28.8%
Median SAT14701470
Avg. GPA3.72-
Number of applications21,38473,742
International students22.1%14.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$79K$81K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$50K$55K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$117K$117K
Graduation rate85.4%85.1%
Retention rate90.7%94.8%
Median debt$21,000$19,500
Tuition · year$70,284$38,400
Avg. aid package$60,879$23,217
% of need met96.1%0.8%
Avg. graduate debt$32,304$22,395
Application fee$50$50
Enrollment11,94659,238

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

It's harder to get into Rochester. Rochester accepts 40.08% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.

Do Rochester or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?

Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $79K at Rochester and $81K at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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

Sticker-price tuition is $70,284 per year at Rochester and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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

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

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

Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Rochester vs #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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

The average aid package is $60,879 at Rochester and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Compare Rochester 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.