Illinois vs. NC State

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in Champaign, IL with North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is larger than NC State based on total student enrollment (59,238 students vs. 38,464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is located in Champaign, IL (Small City setting); North Carolina State University at Raleigh is in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting).
• University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 20:1; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1.

Illinois vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois or NC State? 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 NC State ($13,973 vs. $15,522).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 1.3% lower than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign ($14,332 vs. $14,522).
• University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is 81.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $7,205 more per year; $16,004.00 vs. $8,799.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.9% higher at Illinois than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $2,277 more per year; $35,124.00 vs. $32,847.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (52% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students is 65.3% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($19,299 vs. $11,675).

Illinois vs. NC State Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (1420) is 30 points higher than at NC State (1390).
• Incoming Illinois students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at NC State).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Illinois - Test optional; NC State - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Illinois Jan 5, 2027; NC State Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Illinois (3.79).
• Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (42.4%) than NC State (41.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Illinois vs. 31.8% at NC State.

Illinois vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Illinois and NC State? 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh's (72%).
• Graduates from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $9,300 more per year than NC State graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,500 vs. $57,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign graduates have a $282 lower median loan debt than NC State graduates ($20,500 vs. $20,782).
• Among borrowers, Illinois graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NC State graduates ($211 vs. $214).
• More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 76%)

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.