Illinois vs. UT Dallas

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in Champaign, IL with The University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is larger than UT Dallas based on total student enrollment (59,238 students vs. 29,886 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is located in Champaign, IL (Small City setting); The University of Texas at Dallas is in Richardson, TX (Small City setting).
• University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Dallas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 20:1; The University of Texas at Dallas 23:1.

Illinois vs. UT Dallas Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois or UT Dallas? 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 UT Dallas ($13,973 vs. $14,916).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Dallas are 0.6% lower than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign ($14,430 vs. $14,522).
• University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is 9.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Dallas (about $1,360 more per year; $16,004.00 vs. $14,644.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.3% higher at UT Dallas than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (about $5,020 more per year; $40,144.00 vs. $35,124.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Dallas than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (64% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students is 29.4% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Dallas students ($19,299 vs. $14,909).

Illinois vs. UT Dallas Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (1420) is 130 points higher than at UT Dallas (1290).
• Incoming Illinois students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at UT Dallas).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520; The University of Texas at Dallas 1160/1410.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34; The University of Texas at Dallas 24/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Illinois - Test optional; UT Dallas - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Illinois Jan 5, 2027; UT Dallas May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at UT Dallas (3.78).
• UT Dallas has a higher acceptance rate (65.1%) than Illinois (42.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Illinois vs. 20.3% at UT Dallas.

Illinois vs. UT Dallas Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Illinois and UT Dallas? 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 The University of Texas at Dallas's (61%).
• Graduates from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than UT Dallas graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,500 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Texas at Dallas graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Illinois graduates ($18,750 vs. $20,500).
• Among borrowers, UT Dallas graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Illinois graduates ($193 vs. $211).
• More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Dallas students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 64%)

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.