Illinois vs. UC

Should I go to University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign or University of Cincinnati Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Illinois or UC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign vs. University of Cincinnati Main Campus comparison
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign University of Cincinnati Main Campus College 3 College 4
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign University of Cincinnati Main Campus
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Overview

 Illinois UC
Location Champaign, IL Cincinnati, OH
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 56,563 43,338
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #120 #431
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinois.edu uc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Illinois UC
Tuition (In State) $12,712 $11,892
Tuition (Out of State) $31,208 $28,904
Room & Board $13,938 $13,048
Avg Net Price $14,297 $21,511
Avg Grant Aid $17,524 $8,195
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 68%

Admission

 Illinois UC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 67,398 33,165
Admitted 29,446 29,077
Acceptance Rate 43.7% 87.7%
Enrolled % 28.3% 23.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.69
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/34 24/29
SAT Range 1270/1510 1150/1360
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 5, 2026 Mar 1, 2026

Academics

 Illinois UC
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

 Illinois UC
Graduation Rate 82% 59%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,500 $45,600
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $211 $237

Diversity

 Illinois UC
% Men 21% 11%
% Women 16% 17%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 48% 75%
% Black 6% 7%
% Hispanic 10% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 16% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

 Illinois UC
% In-State 73% 77%
% Out-of-State 12% 20%

Campus

 Illinois UC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is larger than than UC based on total student enrollment (56,563 students vs. 43,338 students)

Illinois vs. UC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois or UC?

  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is 6.9% more expensive to attend than UC for in-state tuition ($12,712.00 vs. $11,892.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8% higher at Illinois than University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($31,208.00 vs. $28,904.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign than UC ($14,297 vs. $21,511)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus are 6.8% lower than costs at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($13,048 vs. $13,938)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Cincinnati Main Campus than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (68% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students is 113.8% larger than aid received University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($17,524 vs. $8,195)

Illinois vs. UC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Illinois or UC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC or Illinois .

  • The average SAT score at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (1305) is 140 points higher than at UC (1165)
  • Incoming Illinois students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at UC (26)
  • Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at UC (3.69)
  • UC has a higher acceptance rate (87.7%) than Illinois (43.7%)

Illinois vs. UC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Illinois or UC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UC and Illinois.

  • The graduation rate at Illinois is higher than University of Cincinnati Main Campus (82% vs. 59%)
  • Graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign earn on average $20,900 more per year than UC graduates after ten years. ($66,500 vs. $45,600)
  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than UC graduates. ($20,500 vs. $23,000)
  • Illinois graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than UC graduates. ($211 vs. $237)
  • More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/