Illinois vs. Cornell College

Should I go to University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign or Cornell College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Illinois or Cornell College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign vs. Cornell College comparison
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Cornell College College 3 College 4
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Cornell College
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Overview

 Illinois Cornell College
Location Champaign, IL Mount Vernon, IA
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 56,916 1,073
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #106 #424
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinois.edu cornellcollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Illinois Cornell College
Tuition (In State) $12,474 $48,514
Tuition (Out of State) $30,446 $48,514
Room & Board $12,720 $10,872
Avg Net Price $14,544 $25,686
Avg Grant Aid $16,552 $38,069
% Receiving Grant Aid 54% 100%

Admission

 Illinois Cornell College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 63,257 3,057
Admitted 28,354 2,425
Acceptance Rate 44.8% 79.3%
Enrolled % 28.1% 13.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.53
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/34 23/30
SAT Range 1320/1510 1170/1380
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 5, 2025

Academics

 Illinois Cornell College
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

 Illinois Cornell College
Graduation Rate 82% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,500 $45,400
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $211 $279

Diversity

 Illinois Cornell College
% Men 54% 52%
% Women 46% 48%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 48% 66%
% Black 6% 5%
% Hispanic 10% 13%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 16% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 7%

Students

 Illinois Cornell College
% In-State 71% 30%
% Out-of-State 11% 67%

Campus

 Illinois Cornell College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is larger than than Cornell College based on total student enrollment (56,916 students vs. 1,073 students)

Illinois vs. Cornell College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois or Cornell College?

  • Cornell College is 288.9% more expensive to attend than Illinois for in-state tuition ($48,514.00 vs. $12,474.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 59.3% higher at Cornell College than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($48,514.00 vs. $30,446.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign than Cornell College ($14,544 vs. $25,686)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell College are 17% lower than costs at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($10,872 vs. $12,720)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cornell College than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (100% vs. 54%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell College students is 130% larger than aid received University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($38,069 vs. $16,552)

Illinois vs. Cornell College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Illinois or Cornell College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cornell College or Illinois .

  • The average SAT score at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (1305) is 128 points higher than at Cornell College (1177)
  • Incoming Illinois students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Cornell College (26)
  • Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Cornell College (3.53)
  • Cornell College has a higher acceptance rate (79.3%) than Illinois (44.8%)

Illinois vs. Cornell College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Illinois or Cornell College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Cornell College and Illinois.

  • The graduation rate at Illinois is higher than Cornell College (82% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign earn on average $21,100 more per year than Cornell College graduates after ten years. ($66,500 vs. $45,400)
  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students graduate with a $6,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Cornell College graduates. ($20,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Illinois graduates are paying $68 less per month on federal student loans than Cornell College graduates. ($211 vs. $279)
  • More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell College 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/