What is university of illinois urbana champaign known for

The flagship school of the Illinois system, the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign boasts some of the top STEM programs in the U.S. The school is consistently ranked as one of the top schools for engineering and computer science. Computer science courses include the popular virtual reality elective that teaches students about the geometric modeling and optics behind VR. The school offers a range of merit and need-based scholarships, including the Illinois Commitment which guarantees free tuition for Illinois residents

with family incomes of $61,000 or less. More than 7,000 students are a member of one of the around 90 Greek organizations on campus. On the field, the Fighting Illini compete in the Division I’s Big Ten conference and have captured 23 national championships. Silicon Valley venture capitalist and tech entrepreneur Marc Andreesen, actor and comedian Nick Offerman and Paypal cofounder Max Levchin all attended the university.

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63%

70%

52,679

20.0:1

$13,151

Average Undergraduate Students Aid

$15,150

In-State Tuition and Fees

$32,600

Out-of-State Tuition and Fees

= Average

Sector

Public, 4-year or above

Carnegie Classification

Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity

Religious Affiliation

Not applicable

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a top-tier public research university, ranked #11 in the nation among public institutions by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1867, U of I was part of the sweeping Morrill land-grant act that allowed states to build public universities with gifts of federal land. Like other land-grant institutions, Illinois’ curriculum was designed around what was then called “industrial” education – the forerunner of modern engineering and applied science. Today, the University of Illinois is one of the foremost STEM and business institutions in the world, and recognized as a Public Ivy (a public university with the value and prestige of the Ivy League).

Academic Programs

Thanks to its land-grant heritage, which placed the highest priority on useful, practical research and education, U of I has grown world-class engineering, business, and computer science programs (including a top 3 accounting program, engineering and computer science programs ranked in the top 10, and a top 50 College of Business). Illinois researchers in computer science developed innovations in computer music, web browsing, and programming, and U of I is the home of the largest supercomputer in a public university. Illinois is also the place for library science – home not only to one of the largest universities in the nation, but the #1 Graduate School of Library and Information Science as well.

The University of Illinois is a proven powerhouse for students on the job market as well. Nearly three-quarter of America’s Fortune 500 companies actively recruit on campus, and altogether more than 5,000 companies have a recruitment presence at the U of I. The university also has one of the highest alumni organization memberships in the nation, over 450,000, giving graduates a tremendous network to draw on for employment. Champaign-Urbana is also a top start-up city, reflecting the research and development fed by the university.

Student Life

Thirty-five thousand undergraduates and 11,000 graduate students call the University of Illinois their intellectual and academic home. Student life in Urbana-Champaign is extremely rich, with over 1000 official student organizations and dozens of Greek houses. With the influence of the university, Champaign-Urbana (the official name, despite the university’s title) has grown into a bustling urban area, with nationally-known cultural offerings and an influential music scene.

The twin cities area has many options for employment for graduates, but Chicago, a two-hour drive from the university, is the destination for many graduates. UIUC has also been named one of the nation’s top party schools by the Princeton Review, an honor offset by the UI’s model student leadership and community service programs. From Illinois, the Midwest, or farther with online degree programs, students trust the University of Illinois.

Some academic institutions in a state are simply more popular than the rest. Such is the case with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), which also happens to be the University of Illinois System’s flagship school.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a good school for students who wish to earn a degree from a well-known institution whose campus is big and the population is diverse. Besides having over 170 majors, UIUC also offers a great Greek life and social events, which is why it’s a party school.

Whether you are a certified vlogger or just love watching all sorts of online videos, you might find this UIUC fact interesting: Two of the three co-founders of YouTube, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim, studied Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign!

The following are some quick stats about UIUC every student planning to apply to it should know:

  • Location: Champaign and Urbana, Illinois
  • Founding date: 1867
  • Motto: Learning and labor
  • Campus size: 1,783 acres
  • Campus type: City
  • School type: Liberal public land-grant research university
  • Reputation: Party school
  • Selectivity level: Moderately selective
  • Number of majors: 172
  • Popular majors: Accounting, Business, Chemistry, Communication, Engineering, Psychology, Social Sciences
  • Student body: 52,679 (as per Common Data Set 2020 to 2021)
  • Students per class: 2 to 9 in most classes
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: 20:1
  • Retention rate: 94%
  • Graduation rate: 85%
  • Athletic affiliation: NCAA Division I
  • Color: Orange and blue
  • Mascot: The Belted Kingfisher
  • Number of varsity teams: 21
  • Sports: Baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, wrestling

Liking UIUC better because of the things about it you have just read?

Keep reading. Below are some other matters you need to know about the star institution of the University of Illinois System. After checking out this article, you will have a much better idea of whether or not you should include it on your college list.

What is university of illinois urbana champaign known for
University Illinois Urbana Champaign

US News ranks the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign #15 in Top Public Schools and #47 in National Universities. Meanwhile, Niche ranks it #1 in Top Public Universities in Illinois. UIUC is ranked #3 in Best Value Colleges in Illinois and #23 in Best Public Colleges in the US by College Simply.

Want to fill your college list with nothing but highly ranked colleges and universities because you have a solid application? Then UIUC is definitely worthy of a spot.

It’s not unlikely for you to come across the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign when checking out college rankings, including especially those that pit public institutions against one another. But if you are aware of the fact that UIUC is a flagship school, then seeing its name almost all the time should not come as a shock.

Let’s take a quick look at a few of the school’s other rankings by different college rankers:

  • #1 in Best Public Colleges in Illinois (College Simply)
  • #3 in Best Colleges in Illinois (College Simply)
  • #4 in the Midwest (Forbes)
  • #6 in Most Liberal Colleges in Illinois (Niche)
  • #11 in Public Colleges (Forbes)
  • #15 in Best Big Colleges in America (Niche)
  • #21 in Best Colleges for Veterans (US News)
  • #31 in Top Colleges (Forbes)
  • #61 in Best Value Colleges in the US (College Simply)
  • #82 in QS World University Rankings (TopUniversities.com)
  • #135 in Best Value Schools (US News)

With the availability of various clubs and organizations as well as all sorts of merrymaking, it isn’t surprising, too, that the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the best party schools in the country.

As a matter of fact, Niche ranks it #1 Top Party School in Illinois, #3 in Best Greek Life Colleges in America, #8 in Top Party Schools in America, and #32 in Colleges With the Best Student Life in America. Meanwhile, back in 2015, UIUC was named the top party school in the nation by the Princeton Review.

UIUC has been an amazing experience for me. I’ve met so many people who I love and the environment is incredible. Overall it’s just the picturesque college experience and I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

Niche.com

Acceptance Rate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

A little more than half of all graduating high schoolers applying as freshmen students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign get accepted. With an acceptance rate of 59%, it has a moderate selectivity level. In Illinois, UIUC is one of the institutions with the lowest acceptance rates.

According to UIUC’s admissions officers themselves, the school has a whole-context holistic review.

This means that it’s not just your GPA and test score that could help you win an acceptance letter but also many other parts of your application, from your admissions essay to your work experience.

If you believe that the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign considers all sorts of academic and non-academic factors in evaluating applicants, think again.

Despite being highly ranked and popular in The Prairie State and across the US, its admissions officers do not take into account some factors many colleges and universities do.

Here are the different admissions factors UIUC doesn’t care about:

  • Class rank
  • Recommendation letter
  • Interview
  • Alumni member relations
  • Religious affiliation
  • Demonstrated interest

When crafting your application, see to it that you have an impressive academic rigor, GPA, test score, admissions essay, extracurriculars and talent or ability as they are the most important. Personal qualities, residence, volunteer work and work experience are considered, too, but not as important as the rest.

But great news: applying earlier might increase your admissions chances! We will discuss this matter in a few, so make sure that you keep reading if UIUC is your top-choice school.

As mentioned earlier, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the institutions in the state with the lowest acceptance rates.

The following are the top 20 most selective schools in Illinois:

NAME LOCATION ACCEPTANCE RATE
University of Chicago Chicago 6%
Northwestern University Evanston 9%
Judson University Elgin 39%
Benedictine University Lisle 42%
Methodist College of Nursing Peoria 44%
University of St. Francis Joliet 46%
North Park University Chicago 48%
Northern Illinois University DeKalb 48%
Eastern Illinois University Charleston 53%
North Central College Naperville 54%
Rockford College Rockford 54%
Lake Forest College Lake Forest 55%
Greenville College Greenville 56%
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago 57%
Augustana College Rock Island 57%
Blackburn College Carlinville 57%
Western Illinois University Macomb 57%
Northeastern Illinois University Chicago 58%
Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais 58%
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign and Urbana 59%

Does the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Offer Early Decision?

Applicants cannot apply Early Decision to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as the school does not offer such an admission plan. However, it has Priority Decision in addition to Regular Decision, which allows applicants to apply early without having to attend the school when accepted.

Here’s the deal with UIUC’s Priority Decision: while it’s true that it allows you to apply ahead, you will hear back from the admissions office at the same time as everybody else.

But, as mentioned earlier, applying Priority Decision might increase your chances of getting an acceptance letter — the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s website itself says so. This is especially true if you are applying to one of the school’s most selective programs, which tend to have limited slots.

Also, unlike Early Decision, Priority Decision is not binding — you are not obligated to attend UIUC if accepted.

Want to make sure that your application to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will be considered? Then see to it that you don’t forget these important admissions-related deadlines:

ADMISSION PLAN DEADLINE DECISION NOTIFICATION
Priority Decision 1-Nov Mid-February
Regular Decision 5-Jan Mid-February

GPA You Need to Get Into the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Having a high GPA is important in order to increase one’s chances of being accepted into the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school, like many colleges and universities, does not have a published minimum GPA requirement. However, the middle 50% of admits have GPAs from 3.50 to 3.94.

Being a moderately selective school, it goes without saying that UIUC applicants need to have impressive high school GPAs if they want to receive an acceptance letter.

What is university of illinois urbana champaign known for
University Illinois Urbana Champaign

The good news is that there is no minimum GPA requirement for those who are interested in applying.

The bad news?

The middle 50% of first-year students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, for the past three years as of this writing, at least, have high school GPAs ranging from 3.50 to 3.94. This means that only 25% of admits had lower GPAs than 3.50, while a whopping 25% of admits have higher GPAs than 3.94.

As a general rule of thumb, the closer your high school GPA to the upper range, the better.

Besides the GPAs of the middle 50% of admitted students, UIUC has also published the middle 50% of the standardized test scores of applicants welcomed to the campus as freshmen.

They are as follows:

  • SAT – 1300 to 1500 (without writing)
  • ACT – 28 to 34
  • TOEFL – 103 to 110

How Much Does It Cost to Attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

The total cost of attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for a year costs $33,060 for in-state students and $50,850 for out-of-state students, based on the academic year 2021 to 2022 rate. The tuition and fees cost $16,866 for Illinois residents and $34,316 for non-Illinois residents.

It’s perfectly normal for out-of-state students to have a higher cost of attendance than in-state students.

Residing outside Illinois?

Don’t be surprised if your tuition is double the tuition of someone who resides in the state. At other public institutions, out-of-state tuition costs can be up to three times higher than in-state tuition costs — sometimes even higher! In any case, make sure that the pros outweigh the cons of studying out-of-state.

Related Article: 425 Colleges Charging In-State Tuition for Out-of-State Applicants

Here’s the estimated breakdown of the cost of going to UIUC for the academic year 2021 to 2022:

EXPENSES IN-STATE COSTS OUT-OF-STATE COSTS
Tuition and fees $16,866 $34,316
Room and board $12,494 $12,494
Books and supplies $1,200 $1,200
Miscellaneous $2,840 $2,840
TOTAL $33,060 $50,850
University of Illinois Cost of Attendance

By the way, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, like at most institutions for higher education, the tuition varies from program to program. It’s because of this why, on the Cost and Aid page of UIUC’s website, the cost of attendance can range from $33,060 to $38,154 (in-state) and $50,850 to $55,944 (out-of-state).

How Much Do the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Graduates Make

Six years from their initial enrollment, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign graduates earn around $49,000 per year. On the other hand, ten years after attending the school for the first time, they make about $66,500 per year. Average annual earnings can vary based on many different factors.

According to an online study, the majority of business leaders said that the college where an applicant went to is either not very important or not important at all.

But let’s be honest — a degree from a flagship school such as UIUC can make your resume a complete standout.

My experience at UIUC has been a roller coasted. Overall it’s a pretty good school. Student life is great. They provide many opportunities for students to enjoy themselves. Course work can be overwhelming. Some professors help others don’t.

Niche.com

It’s most likely because of this why the annual earnings of the graduates of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ten years from the time they started to go to the school, are 94% higher than what’s considered the national median for individuals employed across all industries. The national median, by the way, is equivalent to $34,300.

How much money you can make armed with a UIUC degree can vary. Factors such as your major, location and previous work can have an impact on your paycheck.

The following shows the average initial annual earnings of UIUC graduates according to major:

MAJOR YEARLY EARNINGS
Computer Science $92,200
Computer Engineering $78,000
Industrial Engineering $72,600
Electrical Engineering $70,000
Communications Engineering $70,000
Chemical Engineering $69,300
Finance $68,700
Mechanical Engineering $67,200
Civil Engineering $62,900
Accounting $61,400
Statistics $57,200
Marketing $55,900
Economics $49,400
Mathematics $44,900
Food Science and Technology $41,000
Chemistry $39,700
Communication and Media Studies $38,100
Physics $37,900
Political Science $36,200
Architecture $36,100
Journalism $31,900
Psychology $30,200
Sociology $28,500
History $28,500
English Language and Literature $28,500
Anthropology $22,700

Famous People That Went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Many recognizable personalities are associated with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, by either getting a diploma from it or attending it at one point in their lives. Some of them are in politics, the corporate world and sports. Others went on to become scientists, authors and entertainers.

A degree earned from a flagship school such as the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign could open doors to various opportunities for you — you are only limited by the amount of passion and hard work you would be willing to devote for the attainment of success in your career.

Wondering what sort of possibilities a UIUC experience could bring?

Below are some of the most recognizable people who graduated from or once attended the academic institution you are planning to apply to:

  • Jon Corzine – Former US Senator and the 54th Governor of New Jersey (2006 to 2010)
  • Jesse Jackson – Second African-American to run for the US presidency
  • Lew Allen – Tenth chief of staff of the US Air Force
  • Arnold Orville Beckman – Funded the Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory, which gave rise to Silicon Valley
  • Nick Holonyak – Creator of the first visible LED
  • Wallace Carothers – Developer of nylon, thus laying the foundation of the synthetic-fiber industry
  • Larry Ellison – Co-founder and former CEO of Oracle Corporation
  • Marc Andreessen – Co-author of Mosaic and co-founder of Netscape and Andreessen Horowitz
  • Max Levchin – Co-founder of a company that went on to become PayPal
  • Steve Chen – Co-founder of YouTube
  • Jawed Karim – Co-founder of YouTube
  • Ron Popeil – Inventor of Veg-O-Matic, Pocket Fisherman and other infomercial products
  • Scott D. Altman – Former NASA astronaut who is a veteran of four Space Shuttle missions
  • Roger Ebert – First person to receive a Pulitzer Prize for film criticism
  • Hugh Hefner – Founder of the Playboy magazine
  • Stuart M. Kaminsky – Author of the novel A Cold Red Sunrise, which won the 1989 Edgar Award
  • Ann Weldy – Author of six lesbian pulp fiction novels known as The Beebo Brinker Chronicles
  • Gene Hackman – Award-winning actor whose career spanned over six decades
  • Alan Ruck – Best known for playing the best friend of the titular character in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
  • Greg Lewis – Football coach and former football player for the NFL
  • George Halas – Former professional football player associated with the NFL from its inception
  • Deron Williams – Former basketball player for UIUC and the NBA
  • Kenny Battle – Former basketball player for UIUC and various NBA teams

Just Before You Apply to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

It’s not that difficult to get your hands on a degree from a flagship school, thanks to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s somewhat high acceptance rate of 59%. But just because more than half of all applicants wind up attending the school doesn’t mean that you can have a mediocre application and expect to get accepted.

Above, we talked about various UIUC admissions-related matters.

Make sure that you have carefully read everything before you decide whether or not this highly ranked flagship school should go at the top of your college list.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the College Reality Check.

What is university of illinois urbana champaign known for

I graduated with BA in Nursing and $36,000 in student loan debt from the UCF. After a decade in the workforce, I went back to school to obtain my MBA from UMGC.

What is special about University of Illinois Champaign?

We have the most students of color among top-ranked Midwest universities. Diversity is essential in both learning and living, and it's something we embrace. When you go to UIUC, you're not just meeting people “from Illinois.” Students here come from 50 U.S. states and more than 100 countries across the world.

What majors is University of Illinois Urbana

The most popular majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign include: Engineering; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Social Sciences; Psychology; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Mathematics and Statistics; Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related ...

Is University of Illinois at Urbana

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a top-tier public research university, ranked #11 in the nation among public institutions by U.S. News & World Report.

What is Urbana IL known for?

Urbana is known for the progressive, high-achieving school system of Urbana School District 116 and its great Urbana Tiger spirit. The Urbana Free Library founded in 1874, is ranked among the top one percent of American public libraries both statewide and nationally for the fourth time.