University of Virginia
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Virginia vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - US university comparison

University of Virginia
VIRGINIA
Charlottesville, Virginia
World rank · ARWU#201-300
Acceptance16.81%
Median SAT1470
Graduation rate95.6%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$87K
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 Virginia University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
#201-300 World rank · ARWU #55
- Rank · THE #46
16.81% Acceptance rate 42.37%
1470 Median SAT 1470
95.6% Graduation rate 85.1%
26,470 Enrollment 59,238

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

16.81% Acceptance rate 42.37%
40% Yield rate 28.8%
1470 Median SAT 1470
- Avg. GPA -
58,951 Number of applications 73,742
4.9% Int'l students 14.9%
$87K Median earnings · 10 yrs $81K
$59K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $55K
$130K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
95.6% Graduation rate 85.1%
97.9% Retention rate 94.8%
$17,500 Median debt $19,500
$62,923 Tuition · year $38,400
$37,123 Avg. aid package $23,217
100% % of need met 0.8%
$25,137 Avg. graduate debt $22,395
$75 Application fee $50
- Avg. int'l aid $5,836
At a glance
Virginia leads in 8 of 11 measured metrics
% of need100% vs 0.8%
Acceptance16.81% vs 42.37%
Tuition$62,923 vs $38,400

The verdict, from the data

The lower acceptance rate belongs to Virginia: 16.8% against 42.4% (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).

The more international environment is at Illinois Urbana-Champaign (14.9% international students) than Virginia (4.9%).

Virginia 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.

The cheaper tuition belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: $38,400 against $62,923, or $24,523 less a year.

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

Virginia is the more selective of the two (16.81% vs 42.37% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #55). Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $81K). Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $62,923 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 Virginia 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

Admissions

Virginia is more selective (16.81% vs 42.37% acceptance).

Graduate outcomes

Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $81K); Virginia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.6% vs 85.1%).

Cost and aid

Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $62,923); Virginia offers a larger average aid package ($37,123 vs $23,217).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Virginia Illinois Urbana-Champaign
World rank · ARWU#201-300#55
Rank · THE-#46
Acceptance rate16.81%42.37%
Yield rate40%28.8%
Median SAT14701470
Avg. GPA--
Number of applications58,95173,742
International students4.9%14.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$87K$81K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$59K$55K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$130K$117K
Graduation rate95.6%85.1%
Retention rate97.9%94.8%
Median debt$17,500$19,500
Tuition · year$62,923$38,400
Avg. aid package$37,123$23,217
% of need met100%0.8%
Avg. graduate debt$25,137$22,395
Application fee$75$50
Enrollment26,47059,238

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

It's harder to get into Virginia. Virginia accepts 16.81% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.

Do Virginia or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?

Virginia graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $87K vs $81K.

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

Sticker-price tuition is $62,923 per year at Virginia and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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

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

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

Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Virginia vs #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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

The average aid package is $37,123 at Virginia and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Compare Virginia 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.