Illinois vs. IIT

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in Champaign, IL with Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is larger than IIT based on total student enrollment (59,238 students vs. 8,834 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is located in Champaign, IL (Small City setting); Illinois Institute of Technology is in Chicago, IL (Large City setting).
• University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 20:1; Illinois Institute of Technology 14:1.

Illinois vs. IIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois or IIT? 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 IIT ($13,973 vs. $24,796).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign are 16.3% lower than at Illinois Institute of Technology ($14,522 vs. $17,356).
• Illinois Institute of Technology is 227.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Illinois (about $36,382 more per year; $52,386.00 vs. $16,004.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.1% higher at IIT than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (about $17,262 more per year; $52,386.00 vs. $35,124.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Institute of Technology than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (100% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Institute of Technology students is 130.8% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students ($44,547 vs. $19,299).

Illinois vs. IIT Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Illinois or IIT? 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 IIT and Illinois.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (1420) is 110 points higher than at IIT (1310).
• Incoming Illinois students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at IIT).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520; Illinois Institute of Technology 1180/1440.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34; Illinois Institute of Technology 26/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Illinois - Test optional; IIT - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Illinois Jan 5, 2027; IIT Mar 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman IIT students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Illinois (3.79).
• IIT has a higher acceptance rate (54.9%) than Illinois (42.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Illinois vs. 7.7% at IIT.

Illinois vs. IIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Illinois and IIT? 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 Illinois Institute of Technology's (64%).
• Graduates from Illinois Institute of Technology earn a median of about $12,800 more per year than Illinois graduates about ten years after starting college ($79,300 vs. $66,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than IIT graduates ($20,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Illinois graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IIT graduates ($211 vs. $279).
• More IIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Illinois students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.