Florida vs. Illinois

Deciding between University of Florida 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 Florida
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Florida Gainesville, FL
  • Illinois Champaign, IL
  • Setting
  • Florida Midsize City
  • Illinois Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Florida 56,311
  • Illinois 59,238
  • Type
  • Florida Public 4 Year
  • Illinois Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Florida #74
  • Illinois #117
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Florida -
  • Illinois -
  • Status
  • Florida Non-profit
  • Illinois Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Florida
  • Illinois

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Florida $6,381
  • Illinois $16,004
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Florida $28,659
  • Illinois $35,124
  • Room & Board
  • Florida $12,120
  • Illinois $14,522
  • Average Net Price
  • Florida $11,936
  • Illinois $13,973
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Florida $10,846
  • Illinois $19,299
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Florida 91%
  • Illinois 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Florida 73,557
  • Illinois 73,742
  • Admitted
  • Florida 17,804
  • Illinois 31,247
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Florida 24.2%
  • Illinois 42.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Florida 42.2%
  • Illinois 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Florida 1400
  • Illinois 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • Florida 31
  • Illinois 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Florida 3.9
  • Illinois 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Florida A
  • Illinois A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Florida Exceptional
  • Illinois Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Florida Very High
  • Illinois Low
  • ACT Range
  • Florida 29/33
  • Illinois 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Florida 1320/1480
  • Illinois 1310/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Florida Required
  • Illinois Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Florida Mar 1, 2027
  • Illinois Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Florida 16:1
  • Illinois 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Florida
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Illinois
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Florida 84%
  • Illinois 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Florida $62,600
  • Illinois $66,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Florida 68%
  • Illinois 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Florida $15,815
  • Illinois $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Florida $163
  • Illinois $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Florida 44%
  • Illinois 54%
  • % Women
  • Florida 56%
  • Illinois 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Florida High
  • Illinois High
  • HBCU
  • Florida No
  • Illinois No
  • % White
  • Florida 57%
  • Illinois 48%
  • % Asian
  • Florida 8%
  • Illinois 17%
  • % Black
  • Florida 6%
  • Illinois 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Florida 21%
  • Illinois 10%
  • % Native American
  • Florida 0%
  • Illinois 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Florida 1%
  • Illinois 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Florida 3%
  • Illinois 3%
  • % International
  • Florida 1%
  • Illinois 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Florida 3%
  • Illinois 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Florida 73%
  • Illinois 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Florida 19%
  • Illinois 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Florida in Gainesville, FL 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 Florida based on total student enrollment (59,238 students vs. 56,311 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Florida is located in Gainesville, FL (Midsize City setting); University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is in Champaign, IL (Small City setting).
  • University of Florida 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 Florida 16:1; University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 20:1.

Florida vs. Illinois Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida 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 Florida than Illinois ($11,936 vs. $13,973).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Florida are 16.5% lower than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign ($12,120 vs. $14,522).
  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is 150.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Florida (about $9,623 more per year; $16,004.00 vs. $6,381.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.6% higher at Illinois than at University of Florida (about $6,465 more per year; $35,124.00 vs. $28,659.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Florida than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (91% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students is 77.9% larger than aid received by University of Florida students ($19,299 vs. $10,846).

Florida vs. Illinois Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida 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 Florida.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (1420) is 20 points higher than at Florida (1400).
  • Incoming Illinois students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Florida).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Florida 1320/1480; University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Florida 29/33; University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida - Required; Illinois - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Florida Mar 1, 2027; Illinois Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Florida students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Illinois (3.79).
  • Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (42.4%) than Florida (24.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 42.2% at Florida vs. 28.8% at Illinois.

Florida vs. Illinois Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida 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 Florida's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than University of Illinois Urbana Champaign's (82%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Florida graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,500 vs. $62,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Florida graduates have a $4,685 lower median loan debt than Illinois graduates ($15,815 vs. $20,500).
  • Among borrowers, Florida graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Illinois graduates ($163 vs. $211).
  • More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florida students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 68%)

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.