Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Champaign, Illinois
43.7% Acceptance Rate
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
43.7%Acceptance Rate
3.79Avg GPA
1418Avg SAT
32Avg ACT
$32,134Annual Cost
$81,054Grad Salary
23.8%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
43.7%
Avg GPA
3.79
Avg SAT
1418
Avg ACT
32
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1270–1510
ACT Middle 50%
29–34
Avg Net Price
$15,201
Need-Based Aid
23.8% receive Pell
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), founded in 1867, is a world-renowned public research university and the flagship of the Illinois system. As an R1 institution with very high research activity, UIUC is particularly strong in engineering, computer science, and business, with its Grainger College of Engineering consistently ranked among the best globally. The 6,370-acre campus features cutting-edge facilities including the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and the Siebel Center for Design. UIUC is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and consistently ranks among the top public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The university's athletic teams, the Fighting Illini, compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Big Ten Conference.
UIUC takes pride in its diverse student body and $650 million annual research enterprise. The campus offers unparalleled resources including one of the world's largest public university libraries. Recent additions include the $95-million Electrical and Computer Engineering Building and the Discovery Partners Institute in Chicago. UIUC's faculty and alumni include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer winners, and tech pioneers. The university's combination of academic excellence, research impact, and spirited campus life makes it one of the most dynamic public institutions in the nation.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Acceptance Rate
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign admits roughly 43.7% of its applicant pool, keeping it competitive without being out of reach for a solid student.
What Illinois Admissions Looks For
- Test Scores Help: Where submitted, scores near or above the middle 50% strengthen an application.
- Solid, Not Perfect: A GPA trending upward matters more than one that's flat.
Selectivity at a Glance
Selective
Selectivity scale: Selective — 43.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.79 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.59 – 3.78
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.34
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is January 5 for Regular Decision applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by March 6.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 150 days left — Regular Decision
Regular Decision
January 5
Decision by: March 6
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: January 30
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Illinois GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Illinois is 3.79. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.49 and 3.79? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.99–4.19.Illinois GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective; GPA is within the typical admitted range.
Recommended Strategy: Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) in the top 5th percentile.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.79 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.59 – 3.78
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.39 – 3.58
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.38
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Requires one Common App personal statement (250-650 words) plus 2-3 major-specific supplemental essays (150 words each, depending on declared/undeclared/second-choice status).
- Founded 1867; flagship of the University of Illinois system, located in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana.
- Essay prompts differ by whether the applicant has selected a major, is undeclared, or has chosen a second-choice major.
- Prompts are accessed within the Common App "Writing" tab after adding Illinois as a college, not on a separate portal.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Illinois
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Illinois) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Illinois is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Illinois Without SAT or ACT?
Illinois considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Average SAT Score: 1418
The average SAT score of admitted students at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is 1418 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1418 — Very Competitive
A 1418 average puts Illinois well above the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1510 SAT or 34 ACT) to stand out. Below average? University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1270, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Illinois. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 710 | 640 | 780 |
| SAT Reading | 680 | 630 | 730 |
| SAT Composite | 1418 | 1270 | 1510 |
Below 1270, you're behind most admitted students; at 1510 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1400
Can I get into University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Illinois) with a 1500 SAT?
A 1500 SAT puts you ahead of most of Illinois's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Illinois) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Illinois is 32.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 32 — Very Competitive
An average of 32 is well above the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 31 | 27 | 34 |
| ACT English | 32 | 28 | 35 |
| ACT Composite | 32 | 29 | 34 |
Can I get into University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a 34 ACT?
A 34 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Illinois's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Illinois.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Illinois
Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning
Competitive positioning at Illinois means clearing the academic bar comfortably, then using the rest of your application to show genuine fit.
Write both major-specific supplements around a real, recent experience - not aspiration
UIUC applicants to a declared major answer two 150-word prompts: describe an experience from the past 3-4 years tied to that major, then explain post-graduation goals and how the major gets them there. Both are capped tight at 150 words, so students should lead with one vivid, specific moment (a class project, an internship, a competition) rather than a broad list of interests.
Choose the Undeclared-track prompts deliberately if major choice is genuinely open
Undeclared applicants answer a different pair: their academic interests naming 2-3 specific majors and why, plus future career/academic goals - this isn't a fallback option for indecisive students, it's a distinct essay set that rewards naming real Illinois departments, courses, or research initiatives rather than staying vague.
Add the second-choice-major essay only if genuinely pursuing a backup path
Students who select a second-choice major (including a second undeclared choice) answer one additional short prompt - this should only be used strategically when there's a real, coherent backup plan, since a mismatched or random second choice can read as unfocused to reviewers.
Treat the two optional essays as truly optional, not a hidden requirement
UIUC offers two additional optional essays for extra context - these should be skipped unless there's a genuine circumstance (gap in coursework, testing issue, unusual personal context) worth explaining; padding them with generic content adds no value and wastes reviewer time.
Expert Insight:
Because the standard personal statement is also required (250-650 words via Common App) alongside the 150-word major essays, students sometimes recycle the same content across all three - UIUC's major-specific prompts require genuinely distinct content tied to Illinois specifically, and reusing the personal statement verbatim in a supplement is an easy tell.
Illinois Profile
Full Name
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Illinois)
City
Champaign
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
61820-5711
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Illinois Degree Worth It?
Illinois offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $77,300, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.14%.
How much does a degree from Illinois Cost?
The sticker price is $32,134/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $15,201.
23.8% of students receive a Pell Grant and 29% take federal loans at Illinois. File your FAFSA early and list Illinois as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Illinois Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $81,054. That's about 100% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado School of Mines | Golden, CO | 1403 | 31 |
| Trinity College | Hartford, CT | 1396 | 32 |
| American University | Washington, DC | 1392 | 31 |
| University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | 1397 | 31 |
| Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Terre Haute, IN | 1389 | 32 |
| St. John's College | Annapolis, MD | 1381 | 31 |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | Amherst, MA | 1393 | 31 |
| St Olaf College | Northfield, MN | 1373 | 30 |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Brunswick, NJ | 1383 | 31 |
| Bard College | Annandale-On-Hudson, NY | 1387 | 31 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | 1417 | 32 |
| Connecticut College | New London, CT | 1412 | 32 |
| University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL | 1416 | 32 |
| Simpson College | Indianola, IA | 1410 | 32 |
| Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley, MA | 1422 | 32 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern University Oakland | Oakland, CA | 1472 | 32 |
| Occidental College | Los Angeles, CA | 1461 | 33 |
| Scripps College | Claremont, CA | 1480 | 33 |
| Georgetown University | Washington, DC | 1494 | 33 |
| Grinnell College | Grinnell, IA | 1486 | 33 |
Degree Programs at Illinois
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois Admissions
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates typically earn around $81,054 a year, on the higher end depending on industry.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign costs roughly $32,134 a year, and most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Pell Grant rate of 23.8% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 43.7%, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign average a 3.79 GPA.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.49 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.39, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — aim above 1418, ideally within the 1270–1510 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is January 5 for Regular Decision applicants. Admission decisions are released by March 6.
The application fee is 50. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is November 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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