Illinois vs. Pitt

Deciding between University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus? 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Illinois Champaign, IL
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • Illinois Small City
  • Pitt Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Illinois 59,238
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Type
  • Illinois Public 4 Year
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Illinois #117
  • Pitt #138
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Illinois -
  • Pitt -
  • Status
  • Illinois Non-profit
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Illinois
  • Pitt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Illinois $16,004
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Illinois $35,124
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Room & Board
  • Illinois $14,522
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Average Net Price
  • Illinois $13,973
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Illinois $19,299
  • Pitt $16,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Illinois 52%
  • Pitt 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Illinois 73,742
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Admitted
  • Illinois 31,247
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Illinois 42.4%
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Illinois 28.8%
  • Pitt 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Illinois 1420
  • Pitt 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Illinois 32
  • Pitt 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Illinois 3.79
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Illinois A-
  • Pitt A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Illinois Exceptional
  • Pitt Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Illinois Low
  • Pitt Low
  • ACT Range
  • Illinois 30/34
  • Pitt 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Illinois 1310/1520
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Illinois Test optional
  • Pitt Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Illinois Jan 5, 2027
  • Pitt

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Illinois 20:1
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Illinois
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Illinois 82%
  • Pitt 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Illinois $66,500
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Illinois 78%
  • Pitt 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Illinois $20,500
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Illinois $211
  • Pitt $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Illinois 54%
  • Pitt 42%
  • % Women
  • Illinois 46%
  • Pitt 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Illinois High
  • Pitt Low
  • HBCU
  • Illinois No
  • Pitt No
  • % White
  • Illinois 48%
  • Pitt 74%
  • % Asian
  • Illinois 17%
  • Pitt 9%
  • % Black
  • Illinois 6%
  • Pitt 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Illinois 10%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % Native American
  • Illinois 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Illinois 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Illinois 3%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % International
  • Illinois 16%
  • Pitt 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Illinois 1%
  • Pitt 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Illinois 71%
  • Pitt 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Illinois 14%
  • Pitt 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is larger than Pitt based on total student enrollment (59,238 students vs. 35,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is located in Champaign, IL (Small City setting); University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 20:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

Illinois vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois or Pitt? 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 Pitt ($13,973 vs. $25,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 6.2% lower than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign ($13,620 vs. $14,522).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 37% more expensive for in-state tuition than Illinois (about $5,922 more per year; $21,926.00 vs. $16,004.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18% higher at Pitt than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (about $6,306 more per year; $41,430.00 vs. $35,124.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (53% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students is 17% larger than aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students ($19,299 vs. $16,494).

Illinois vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (1420) is 50 points higher than at Pitt (1370).
  • Incoming Illinois students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Pitt).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Illinois - Test optional; Pitt - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Illinois Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Illinois students have the same average high school GPA (3.79) as students at Pitt (3.79).
  • Pitt 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. 13% at Pitt.

Illinois vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Illinois and Pitt? 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's (79%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $8,500 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,500 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign graduates have a $6,409 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($20,500 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, Illinois graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($211 vs. $278).
  • More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)

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.