Southern California vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Southern California: 9.8% against 42.4% (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).
Average aid for an international student is $25,384 (Southern California) and $5,836 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Southern California lists $89,087 against $57,284 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign), but after average aid what remains is $17,918 against $34,067.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Southern California: $92K against $81K.
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
Southern California is the more selective of the two (9.81% vs 42.37% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#62 vs #55). Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $81K). Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $68,687 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 Southern California for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Illinois Urbana-Champaign for: a higher world ranking, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Southern California is more selective (9.81% vs 42.37% acceptance); Southern California has a higher median SAT (1495 vs 1470).
Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $81K); Southern California has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.8% vs 85.1%).
Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $68,687); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $23,217).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Southern California | Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #62 | #55 |
| Rank · THE | #72 | #46 |
| Acceptance rate | 9.81% | 42.37% |
| Yield rate | 43.3% | 28.8% |
| Median SAT | 1495 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.80 | - |
| Number of applications | 82,027 | 73,742 |
| International students | 13.2% | 14.9% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $92K | $81K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $59K | $55K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 91.8% | 85.1% |
| Retention rate | 95.6% | 94.8% |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $19,500 |
| Tuition · year | $68,687 | $38,400 |
| Avg. aid package | $71,169 | $23,217 |
| % of need met | 99.3% | 0.8% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,678 | $22,395 |
| Application fee | $85 | $50 |
| Enrollment | 46,566 | 59,238 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Southern California or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
It's harder to get into Southern California. Southern California accepts 9.81% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.
Do Southern California or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?
Southern California graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $92K vs $81K.
How much is tuition at Southern California vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,687 per year at Southern California and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
What SAT score do you need for Southern California or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
The median admitted SAT score is 1495 at Southern California and 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Southern California or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #62 for Southern California vs #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Which university offers more financial aid - Southern California or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
The average aid package is $71,169 at Southern California and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
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