Illinois vs. UMass

Deciding between University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and University of Massachusetts Amherst? 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
University of Massachusetts Amherst

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Illinois Champaign, IL
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • Illinois Small City
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Illinois 59,238
  • UMass 31,726
  • Type
  • Illinois Public 4 Year
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Illinois #117
  • UMass #169
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Illinois -
  • UMass -
  • Status
  • Illinois Non-profit
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Illinois
  • UMass

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Illinois $16,004
  • UMass $17,772
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Illinois $35,124
  • UMass $40,449
  • Room & Board
  • Illinois $14,522
  • UMass $16,710
  • Average Net Price
  • Illinois $13,973
  • UMass $22,948
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Illinois $19,299
  • UMass $13,110
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Illinois 52%
  • UMass 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Illinois 73,742
  • UMass 50,261
  • Admitted
  • Illinois 31,247
  • UMass 30,020
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Illinois 42.4%
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Illinois 28.8%
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Illinois 1420
  • UMass 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Illinois 32
  • UMass 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Illinois 3.79
  • UMass 3.99
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Illinois A-
  • UMass A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Illinois Exceptional
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Illinois Low
  • UMass Low
  • ACT Range
  • Illinois 30/34
  • UMass 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Illinois 1310/1520
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Illinois Test optional
  • UMass Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Illinois Jan 5, 2027
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Illinois 20:1
  • UMass 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Illinois
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Illinois 82%
  • UMass 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Illinois $66,500
  • UMass $55,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Illinois 78%
  • UMass 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Illinois $20,500
  • UMass $24,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Illinois $211
  • UMass $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Illinois 54%
  • UMass 48%
  • % Women
  • Illinois 46%
  • UMass 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Illinois High
  • UMass Medium
  • HBCU
  • Illinois No
  • UMass No
  • % White
  • Illinois 48%
  • UMass 67%
  • % Asian
  • Illinois 17%
  • UMass 9%
  • % Black
  • Illinois 6%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Illinois 10%
  • UMass 5%
  • % Native American
  • Illinois 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Illinois 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Illinois 3%
  • UMass 3%
  • % International
  • Illinois 16%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Illinois 1%
  • UMass 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Illinois 71%
  • UMass 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Illinois 14%
  • UMass 22%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in Champaign, IL with University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is larger than UMass based on total student enrollment (59,238 students vs. 31,726 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is located in Champaign, IL (Small City setting); University of Massachusetts Amherst is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 20:1; University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1.

Illinois vs. UMass Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois or UMass? 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 UMass ($13,973 vs. $22,948).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign are 13.1% lower than at University of Massachusetts Amherst ($14,522 vs. $16,710).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is 11% more expensive for in-state tuition than Illinois (about $1,768 more per year; $17,772.00 vs. $16,004.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.2% higher at UMass than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (about $5,325 more per year; $40,449.00 vs. $35,124.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (81% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students is 47.2% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($19,299 vs. $13,110).

Illinois vs. UMass Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (1420) is 10 points higher than at UMass (1410).
  • Incoming Illinois students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at UMass).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520; University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34; University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Illinois - Test optional; UMass - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Illinois Jan 5, 2027; UMass Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Illinois (3.79).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Illinois (42.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Illinois vs. 17.9% at UMass.

Illinois vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Illinois and UMass? 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 University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $11,300 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,500 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($20,500 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, Illinois graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($211 vs. $248).
  • More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass 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.