Illinois vs. ISU

Deciding between University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and Iowa State University? 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 Illinois Urbana Champaign
Iowa State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Illinois Champaign, IL
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Setting
  • Illinois Small City
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Illinois 59,238
  • ISU 30,380
  • Type
  • Illinois Public 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Illinois #117
  • ISU #343
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Illinois -
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • Illinois Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Illinois
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Illinois $16,004
  • ISU $10,787
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Illinois $35,124
  • ISU $28,881
  • Room & Board
  • Illinois $14,522
  • ISU $10,808
  • Average Net Price
  • Illinois $13,973
  • ISU $17,779
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Illinois $19,299
  • ISU $10,791
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Illinois 52%
  • ISU 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Illinois 73,742
  • ISU 23,095
  • Admitted
  • Illinois 31,247
  • ISU 20,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Illinois 42.4%
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Illinois 28.8%
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Illinois 1420
  • ISU 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • Illinois 32
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Illinois 3.79
  • ISU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Illinois A-
  • ISU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Illinois Exceptional
  • ISU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Illinois Low
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • Illinois 30/34
  • ISU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • Illinois 1310/1520
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Illinois Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Illinois Jan 5, 2027
  • ISU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Illinois 20:1
  • ISU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Illinois
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Illinois 82%
  • ISU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Illinois $66,500
  • ISU $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Illinois 78%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Illinois $20,500
  • ISU $23,868
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Illinois $211
  • ISU $246

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Illinois 54%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Women
  • Illinois 46%
  • ISU 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Illinois High
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • Illinois No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • Illinois 48%
  • ISU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Illinois 17%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Black
  • Illinois 6%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Illinois 10%
  • ISU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Illinois 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Illinois 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Illinois 3%
  • ISU 2%
  • % International
  • Illinois 16%
  • ISU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Illinois 1%
  • ISU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Illinois 71%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Illinois 14%
  • ISU 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in Champaign, IL with Iowa State University in Ames, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is larger than ISU based on total student enrollment (59,238 students vs. 30,380 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is located in Champaign, IL (Small City setting); Iowa State University is in Ames, IA (Small City setting).
  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 20:1; Iowa State University 18:1.

Illinois vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois or ISU? 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 ISU ($13,973 vs. $17,779).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 25.6% lower than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign ($10,808 vs. $14,522).
  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is 48.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $5,217 more per year; $16,004.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.6% higher at Illinois than at Iowa State University (about $6,243 more per year; $35,124.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa State University than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (77% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students is 78.8% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($19,299 vs. $10,791).

Illinois vs. ISU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (1420) is 180 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming Illinois students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520; Iowa State University 1120/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34; Iowa State University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Illinois - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Illinois Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at ISU (3.7).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than Illinois (42.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Illinois vs. 28.8% at ISU.

Illinois vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Illinois and ISU? 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 Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $12,800 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,500 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign graduates have a $3,368 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($20,500 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, Illinois graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($211 vs. $246).
  • More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU 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.