Illinois vs. Rutgers

Deciding between University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Illinois Champaign, IL
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • Illinois Small City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Illinois 59,238
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • Illinois Public 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Illinois #117
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Illinois -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • Illinois Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Illinois
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Illinois $16,004
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Illinois $35,124
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • Illinois $14,522
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Illinois $13,973
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Illinois $19,299
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Illinois 52%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Illinois 73,742
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • Illinois 31,247
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Illinois 42.4%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Illinois 28.8%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Illinois 1420
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Illinois 32
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Illinois 3.79
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Illinois A-
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Illinois Exceptional
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Illinois Low
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • Illinois 30/34
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • Illinois 1310/1520
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Illinois Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Illinois Jan 5, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Illinois 20:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Illinois
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Illinois 82%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Illinois $66,500
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Illinois 78%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Illinois $20,500
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Illinois $211
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Illinois 54%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • Illinois 46%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Illinois High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • Illinois No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • Illinois 48%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • Illinois 17%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • Illinois 6%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Illinois 10%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • Illinois 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Illinois 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Illinois 3%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • Illinois 16%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Illinois 1%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Illinois 71%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Illinois 14%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in Champaign, IL with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is larger than Rutgers based on total student enrollment (59,238 students vs. 52,269 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is located in Champaign, IL (Small City setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 20:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

Illinois vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers ($13,973 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign are 7.6% lower than at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($14,522 vs. $15,714).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 12% more expensive for in-state tuition than Illinois (about $1,925 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $16,004.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.6% higher at Rutgers than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (about $2,317 more per year; $37,441.00 vs. $35,124.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (52% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students is 15.3% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($19,299 vs. $16,742).

Illinois vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (1420) is 10 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Illinois students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Illinois - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Illinois Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Illinois (42.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Illinois vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

Illinois vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Illinois and Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $300 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,500 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign graduates have a $1,715 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($20,500 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Illinois graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($211 vs. $229).
  • More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers 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.