UCLA vs. Illinois

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles and University of Illinois Urbana Champaign? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Los Angeles
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • Illinois Champaign, IL
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • Illinois Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • Illinois 59,238
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • Illinois Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • Illinois #117
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • Illinois -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • Illinois Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • Illinois

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • Illinois $16,004
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • Illinois $35,124
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • Illinois $14,522
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • Illinois $13,973
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • Illinois $19,299
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • Illinois 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • Illinois 73,742
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • Illinois 31,247
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • Illinois 42.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • Illinois 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • Illinois 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • Illinois 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • Illinois 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • Illinois A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • Illinois Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • Illinois Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • Illinois 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • Illinois 1310/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • Illinois Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • Illinois Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • Illinois 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • Illinois
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • Illinois 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • Illinois $66,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • Illinois 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • Illinois $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • Illinois $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • Illinois 54%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • Illinois 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • Illinois High
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • Illinois No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • Illinois 48%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • Illinois 17%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • Illinois 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • Illinois 10%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • Illinois 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • Illinois 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • Illinois 3%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • Illinois 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • Illinois 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • Illinois 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • Illinois 14%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCLA Yes
  • Illinois Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCLA No
  • Illinois Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • UCLA Yes
  • Illinois Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCLA No
  • Illinois No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCLA Yes
  • Illinois Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA with University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in Champaign, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is larger than UCLA based on total student enrollment (59,238 students vs. 47,335 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is in Champaign, IL (Small City setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 20:1.

UCLA vs. Illinois Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA or Illinois? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign than UCLA ($13,973 vs. $14,512).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign are 20.9% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($14,522 vs. $18,369).
  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is 5.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $801 more per year; $16,004.00 vs. $15,203.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.7% higher at UCLA than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (about $14,279 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $35,124.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign than at University of California Los Angeles (52% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 32.8% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students ($25,627 vs. $19,299).

UCLA vs. Illinois Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA or Illinois? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Illinois and UCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is the same as at Illinois (1420).
  • Incoming UCLA students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at Illinois (32).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; Illinois - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; Illinois Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Illinois (3.79).
  • Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (42.4%) than UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 28.8% at Illinois.

UCLA vs. Illinois Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA and Illinois? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of California Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than University of Illinois Urbana Champaign's (82%).
  • Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than Illinois graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $66,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $4,200 lower median loan debt than Illinois graduates ($16,300 vs. $20,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Illinois graduates ($168 vs. $211).
  • More UCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Illinois students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 78%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.