Illinois vs. UW-Seattle

Deciding between University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and University of Washington Seattle 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 Washington Seattle Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Illinois Champaign, IL
  • UW-Seattle Seattle, WA
  • Setting
  • Illinois Small City
  • UW-Seattle Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Illinois 59,238
  • UW-Seattle 56,997
  • Type
  • Illinois Public 4 Year
  • UW-Seattle Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Illinois #117
  • UW-Seattle #90
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Illinois -
  • UW-Seattle -
  • Status
  • Illinois Non-profit
  • UW-Seattle Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Illinois
  • UW-Seattle

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Illinois $16,004
  • UW-Seattle $12,973
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Illinois $35,124
  • UW-Seattle $43,209
  • Room & Board
  • Illinois $14,522
  • UW-Seattle $18,405
  • Average Net Price
  • Illinois $13,973
  • UW-Seattle $11,784
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Illinois $19,299
  • UW-Seattle $16,156
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Illinois 52%
  • UW-Seattle 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Illinois 73,742
  • UW-Seattle 69,166
  • Admitted
  • Illinois 31,247
  • UW-Seattle 27,076
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Illinois 42.4%
  • UW-Seattle 39.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Illinois 28.8%
  • UW-Seattle 26.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Illinois 1420
  • UW-Seattle 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Illinois 32
  • UW-Seattle 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Illinois 3.79
  • UW-Seattle 3.82
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Illinois A-
  • UW-Seattle A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Illinois Exceptional
  • UW-Seattle Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Illinois Low
  • UW-Seattle High
  • ACT Range
  • Illinois 30/34
  • UW-Seattle 27/33
  • SAT Range
  • Illinois 1310/1520
  • UW-Seattle 1200/1453
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Illinois Test optional
  • UW-Seattle Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Illinois Jan 5, 2027
  • UW-Seattle Nov 16, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Illinois 20:1
  • UW-Seattle 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Illinois
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • UW-Seattle
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Illinois 82%
  • UW-Seattle 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Illinois $66,500
  • UW-Seattle $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Illinois 78%
  • UW-Seattle 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Illinois $20,500
  • UW-Seattle $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Illinois $211
  • UW-Seattle $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Illinois 54%
  • UW-Seattle 52%
  • % Women
  • Illinois 46%
  • UW-Seattle 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Illinois High
  • UW-Seattle Very High
  • HBCU
  • Illinois No
  • UW-Seattle No
  • % White
  • Illinois 48%
  • UW-Seattle 42%
  • % Asian
  • Illinois 17%
  • UW-Seattle 24%
  • % Black
  • Illinois 6%
  • UW-Seattle 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Illinois 10%
  • UW-Seattle 7%
  • % Native American
  • Illinois 0%
  • UW-Seattle 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Illinois 0%
  • UW-Seattle 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Illinois 3%
  • UW-Seattle 7%
  • % International
  • Illinois 16%
  • UW-Seattle 15%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Illinois 1%
  • UW-Seattle 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Illinois 71%
  • UW-Seattle 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Illinois 14%
  • UW-Seattle 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is larger than UW-Seattle based on total student enrollment (59,238 students vs. 56,997 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Illinois vs. UW-Seattle Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois or UW-Seattle? 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 Washington Seattle Campus than Illinois ($11,784 vs. $13,973).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign are 21.1% lower than at University of Washington Seattle Campus ($14,522 vs. $18,405).
  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is 23.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UW-Seattle (about $3,031 more per year; $16,004.00 vs. $12,973.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23% higher at UW-Seattle than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (about $8,085 more per year; $43,209.00 vs. $35,124.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign than at University of Washington Seattle Campus (52% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students is 19.5% larger than aid received by University of Washington Seattle Campus students ($19,299 vs. $16,156).

Illinois vs. UW-Seattle Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Illinois or UW-Seattle? 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 UW-Seattle and Illinois.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (1420) is 90 points higher than at UW-Seattle (1330).
  • Incoming Illinois students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at UW-Seattle).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520; University of Washington Seattle Campus 1200/1453.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34; University of Washington Seattle Campus 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Illinois - Test optional; UW-Seattle - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Illinois Jan 5, 2027; UW-Seattle Nov 16, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UW-Seattle students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Illinois (3.79).
  • Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (42.4%) than UW-Seattle (39.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Illinois vs. 26.6% at UW-Seattle.

Illinois vs. UW-Seattle Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Illinois and UW-Seattle? 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 Washington Seattle Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $700 more per year than UW-Seattle graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,500 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Washington Seattle Campus graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Illinois graduates ($15,000 vs. $20,500).
  • Among borrowers, UW-Seattle graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Illinois graduates ($155 vs. $211).
  • More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UW-Seattle 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.