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

West Virginia vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - US university comparison

West Virginia University
WEST VIRGINIA
Morgantown, West Virginia
World rank · ARWU#501-600
Acceptance89%
Median SAT1110
Graduation rate64.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$56K
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

West Virginia University University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
#501-600 World rank · ARWU #55
- Rank · THE #46
89% Acceptance rate 42.37%
1110 Median SAT 1470
64.7% Graduation rate 85.1%
23,643 Enrollment 59,238

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

89% Acceptance rate 42.37%
26.5% Yield rate 28.8%
1110 Median SAT 1470
3.70 Avg. GPA -
20,150 Number of applications 73,742
1.7% Int'l students 14.9%
$56K Median earnings · 10 yrs $81K
$36K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $55K
$84K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
64.7% Graduation rate 85.1%
83.4% Retention rate 94.8%
$22,500 Median debt $19,500
$28,608 Tuition · year $38,400
$16,730 Avg. aid package $23,217
63% % of need met 0.8%
$36,010 Avg. graduate debt $22,395
$65 Application fee $50
$21,636 Avg. int'l aid $5,836
At a glance
Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics
% of need63% vs 0.8%
Acceptance89% vs 42.37%
Grad. debt$36,010 vs $22,395

The verdict, from the data

Illinois Urbana-Champaign admits 42.4% of applicants, while West Virginia admits 89%.

The more international environment is at Illinois Urbana-Champaign (14.9% international students) than West Virginia (1.7%).

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: West Virginia awards international students $21,636 on average, Illinois Urbana-Champaign awards $5,836.

The cheaper tuition belongs to West Virginia: $28,608 against $38,400, or $9,792 less a year.

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

Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the more selective of the two (42.37% vs 89% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #55). Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $56K). West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 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 West Virginia for: lower tuition.

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

Admissions

Illinois Urbana-Champaign is more selective (42.37% vs 89% acceptance); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1110).

Graduate outcomes

Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $56K); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.1% vs 64.7%).

Cost and aid

West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $38,400); Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $16,730).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric West Virginia Illinois Urbana-Champaign
World rank · ARWU#501-600#55
Rank · THE-#46
Acceptance rate89%42.37%
Yield rate26.5%28.8%
Median SAT11101470
Avg. GPA3.70-
Number of applications20,15073,742
International students1.7%14.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$56K$81K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$36K$55K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$84K$117K
Graduation rate64.7%85.1%
Retention rate83.4%94.8%
Median debt$22,500$19,500
Tuition · year$28,608$38,400
Avg. aid package$16,730$23,217
% of need met63%0.8%
Avg. graduate debt$36,010$22,395
Application fee$65$50
Enrollment23,64359,238

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

It's harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign. West Virginia accepts 89% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.

Do West Virginia or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?

Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $56K.

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

Sticker-price tuition is $28,608 per year at West Virginia and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1110 at West Virginia and 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

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

Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for West Virginia vs #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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

The average aid package is $16,730 at West Virginia and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Compare West 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.