Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Small city

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, Illinois. 36,258 undergraduates. Admits 42% of applicants.

86%Graduation rate32 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$13,042Average net price per year34% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$87,599Median earnings 10 years after starting49% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$17,750Median debt at graduation18% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($17,750) equals 20% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($87,599). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$871
$30,000–$48,000$2,983
$48,001–$75,000$5,924
$75,001–$110,000$11,952
Over $110,000$29,998

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $16,354 in-state, $36,706 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate86%54%
Return for second year95%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$67,794$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$87,599$58,912
Median debt at graduation$17,750$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

276 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Science1,094$157,956$219,555—
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering129—$148,874—
Business Administration, Management and Operations1,373$147,218$148,614—
Statistics89—$145,989—
Taxation——$138,261—
Human Resources Management and Services130$96,342$130,502—
Engineering-Related Fields55—$127,682—
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering66$118,500$126,668—
Mechanical Engineering90$100,599$120,984—
Civil Engineering108$88,020$109,607—
Biomedical/Medical Engineering44$79,723$102,852—
Plant Sciences12$75,667$99,088—
Food Science and Technology43—$98,690—
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication22$109,200$98,664—
Animal Sciences46$55,870$90,363—
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods1,043$80,954——
Architectural Sciences and Technology81$65,783$80,816—
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering19$80,812——
Public Health24$55,373$77,657—
Education, General127$65,019$72,848—
Marketing23$71,898——
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services32$58,521$69,013—
Social Work180$55,812$66,592—
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies21$47,937$66,188—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas26$58,835$63,654—
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft14$42,557$63,259—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods5—$62,408—
Curriculum and Instruction43$65,524$61,395—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research33$52,793$59,875—
Special Education and Teaching7$61,263$58,586—
Sustainability Studies57$58,290——
Information Science/Studies368$50,472——
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services22$44,961——
Music37$36,054$40,852—
Agricultural Public Services18———
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences16———
Area Studies12———
Communication and Media Studies5———
Journalism6———
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication6———
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research10———
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language6———
Engineering, General46———
Agricultural Engineering13———
Chemical Engineering19———
Engineering Mechanics1———
Materials Engineering24———
Nuclear Engineering12———
Systems Engineering6———
Industrial Engineering49———
Operations Research28———
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians8———
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics2———
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics4———
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics8———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics4———
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies85———
Legal Professions and Studies, Other3———
English Language and Literature, General6———
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies4———
Biology, General12———
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology1———
Botany/Plant Biology2———
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences6———
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology14———
Zoology/Animal Biology5———
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences7———
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology6———
Biotechnology6———
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology11———
Mathematics25———
Applied Mathematics175———
Nutrition Sciences7———
Geography and Environmental Studies9———
Data Science21———
Data Analytics95———
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness13———
Philosophy2———
Religion/Religious Studies1———
Astronomy and Astrophysics4———
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology12———
Chemistry10———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences3———
Physics14———
Research and Experimental Psychology20———
Community Organization and Advocacy3———
Anthropology3———
Economics90———
Geography and Cartography4———
Political Science and Government5———
Sociology1———
Dance4———
Fine and Studio Arts9———
Health and Medical Administrative Services13———
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions6———
History6———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

42%Admission rate
1,440Average SAT of admitted students
30–34ACT middle 50%
20:1Students per faculty member
26%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign cost per year?
The average net price at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $13,042 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn?
Former University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students earn a median of $87,599 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
86% of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is $17,750. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.