UCSC vs. Illinois

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, 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 UCSC based on total student enrollment (59,238 students vs. 19,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is in Champaign, IL (Small City setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz 22:1; University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 20:1.

UCSC vs. Illinois Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC 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 UCSC ($13,973 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign are 27.2% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($14,522 vs. $19,948).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 0% more expensive for in-state tuition than Illinois (about $1 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $16,004.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.9% higher at UCSC than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (about $15,081 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $35,124.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Santa Cruz than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (57% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 18% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students ($22,774 vs. $19,299).

UCSC vs. Illinois Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC 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 UCSC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (1420) is 160 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
• Incoming Illinois students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at UCSC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; Illinois - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; Illinois Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at UCSC (3.63).
• UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than Illinois (42.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 28.8% at Illinois.

UCSC vs. Illinois Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC 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 Illinois Urbana Champaign's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than University of California Santa Cruz's (73%).
• Graduates from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $16,100 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,500 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $541 lower median loan debt than Illinois graduates ($19,959 vs. $20,500).
• Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Illinois graduates ($206 vs. $211).
• More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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.