University of Illinois Acceptance Rate: in this article, we will be focusing on the University of Illinois at Chicago’s acceptance rate.
Searching for a good school? If yes, you are at the right place. Here is the prestigious University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. It is a public land-grant research university. It was established in the year 1867. The school is situated in between the cities of Urbana and Champaign. Hence, the school’s urban campus is measured at 1,783 acres in urban Illinois. 
At the end of 2021, there were a total of 33,500 undergraduate students and 17,800 graduate students respectively at UIUC.
Hence, the school has more than 150 different degree programs. Also, it has over 1,000 student organizations. This also includes 51 fraternities and 38 sororities.
Similarly, UIUC has 21 sports teams. These teams compete in the NCAA’s Division I as a part of the big ten conference. Hence, the oldest Division I is equal to the athletic conference in the United States.
In accordance with the recent edition of the US News and World Report’s school rankings, it is revealed that UIUC was named #47 among the best colleges in the country. Also, it was named #15 on the list of top public colleges and universities.
As a matter of fact, in competition, the school has produced 26 Pulitzer Prize winners, 23 Nobel Prize winners, and a number of Fulbright U.S. Student Award recipients.
There are other notable alumni of the school. They include the poet Shel Silverstein, musician Dan Fogelberg, politician and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, and Hugh Hefner, founder of Playboy Magazine.
Hence, you can read on to learn more about the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. You will also know about the school’s acceptance rate, the GPA and test scores prospective students should get, and more.
UIUC Acceptance Rate – University of Illinois Acceptance Rate
Hence, the acceptance rate for the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is 63%.
However, at the end of the 2021 admissions cycle, UIUC received 43,473 applications for the first-year class of 2025. However, it was just 27,520 students out of these applicants who received offers for admission.
In accordance with self-reported admissions statistics gathered by US News and World Report, the national average rate at which all colleges and universities accept first-year applicants is about 70.1%.
Therefore, UIUC admissions can be somehow considered fairly selective. This is especially as it is more challenging to get into than the average school.
On the other hand, acceptance rates vary widely across UIUC’s different schools. For instance, the Grainger College of Engineering receives 13,000 engineering applications each year. However, it admits only 4700 to engineering programs.
As a result, it makes the acceptance rate for this school is 37%. Meanwhile, the rate can vary considerably from one major to the next.
Also, acceptance rates are much lower for highly in-demand majors. Yet, the rates are higher than average for some other majors.
UIUC Out-of-State Acceptance Rate
Owing to the fact that the available admissions statistics do not break down acceptance rates in accordance with the student’s state of residence, it is, therefore, very difficult to say what UIUC’s out-of-state acceptance rate is.
Notwithstanding, in the first-year class of 2025, out-of-state students were lesser in number. Out of the total 8,303 students, 5,835 are Illinois state residents. You can imagine the gap.
Hence, with this group making up a 70% majority of the first-year student body, it is, therefore, the largest number of in-state students in the UIUC first-year class since 2018.
However, only 1,352 of these students are from other areas of the United States. In other words, they constitute about 16% of the overall class. On the other hand, international students make up the remaining 1,112 students which are 13%.
Therefore, as a public university, UIUC is majorly committed to serving Illinois citizens more than others. Hence, this, together with the high tuition costs associated with attending UIUC as an out-of-state student, may be seen as the reason for the low number of nonresident students at the school.
GPA for UIUC
Judging from the data collected from admitted first-year students over the past three years, UIUC has determined that the middle 50%, of accepted first-year students, have an average GPA between 3.5 and 3.94 respectively.
Therefore, if you really want to be a competitive applicant to the school, you should strive to get an A+ and B+ grade average in high school.
On the other hand, it is important to note that the median varies considerably according to which of the several different UIUC schools/colleges is involved.
Take for instance, at the Grainger College of Engineering, the middle 50% of students have an average GPA. This ranges from 3.75 to a perfect 4.0.
SAT & ACT Requirements for UIUC
For your information, the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign’s admissions are test-optional. In other words, prospective first-year students are not required to submit standardized test scores as a part of their application materials.
Though students may be contemplating whether to submit SAT or ACT scores, however, applications undergo a total review process. Hence, different elements of the student’s academic profile will determine if they will be qualified for the school.
However, students who have standard test scores which they feel accurately represent their academic skills are advised to submit them.
Meanwhile, test scores are not a prerequisite for consideration for merit-based scholarships.
Also, the median SAT score of accepted UIUC students falls within the range of 1300 and 1500 respectively. Therefore, it is not counting the writing section. Hence, the average ACT score of students who are admitted to UIUC is as low as 28 and as high as 34.
On the other hand, these figures vary across UIUC’s many different colleges/schools, though.
For instance, at the Gies College of Business, the middle 50% of students scored between 1360 and 1480 on the SAT. But the median ACT scores were between 30 and 33.
Other Requirements and Admission Tips
For you to apply to the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, you will need to submit an official high school transcript. Also, you will submit a list of all high school courses taken and the grades earned in each.
Similarly, applicants should as well include a list of all extracurricular activities they have participated in, and any honors/awards they have received.
Students can apply to UIUC in any of these three ways. They includes the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or My Illini. It is worthy to note that the school states that they do not have a preference for any of the three applications.
Again, the application will require that students select an intended major and their second choice.
Due to the fact that UIUC does not require SAT or ACT test scores, students should only attach these scores if they believe that they positively reflect their academic capabilities.
In the same vein, there will be a non-refundable application fee of $50. This can only be paid through a credit card. However, domestic students who are qualified for fee waivers must have their guidance counselor submit the UIUC fee waiver form.
As for the international students, the application fee is $75.
Though, this depends on the major the student applies for. Hence, there may be other additional application requirements. For instance, applicants to the School of Arts and Design will have to submit a portfolio.
Essays for UIUC
In case you don’t know, the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign application requires one essay of 250 to 650 words. However, the essay question will vary depending on which application the student uses.
Meanwhile, a full list of essay questions will be available on each application’s website. The questions are for those who apply through either the Common Application or the Coalition Application.
Students who apply through myIllini can choose one question from the list of five which are available on the school’s site.
Hence, the personal essay questions on these applications will demand the student offered admissions to give additional insight into who they are as a student and as a person. The information should go beyond what the information on the other parts of the application can convey.
Therefore, in order to promote their personal strengths and offer readers a sense of what makes them special as an applicant, students should make use of details to describe a particular experience or story from their past.
In that case, the language should be academically standard. However, it should reflect the student’s original writing style.
In line with the essay, the UIUC first-year application should have two to three short answer questions. Hence, the responses to these questions should not be any more than 150 words.
However, the short-answer questions vary. The variation depends on whether the student is applying to a specific major or to the undeclared program and if they have selected a second choice.
In that case, students who are applying to the undeclared program, for instance, can expect to be asked to clearly explain what their interests are and relate those interests to future career goals.
Is the UIUC Right for You?
Undoubtedly, the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign has been ranked the #1 school in Illinois for best ROI. That is, return on investment. This is in accordance with the Illinois College ROI Report by PayScale.
Really, this ranking is based on the price of in-state tuition for the average number of years it takes to graduate. Hence, to know the graduation rates and median income 20 years after graduation.
As for in-state students, earning a degree at UIUC is a worthwhile investment. This is especially as they are set to provide an excellent value education for the money you will spend. Of course, these calculations do not apply to out-of-state tuition costs. The tuition costs out-of-state are very much higher.
For Illinois residents, the tuition fee for one year at UIUC is around $33,558 to $38,744. This estimate is according to the 2022 and 2023 academic years. On the other hand, out-of-state tuition is expected to cost between $51,870 and $59,556.
Moreover, the cost of attending UIUC as an out-of-state student is undoubtedly something many will have to consider in selecting a college. However, it can be said that UIUC still has a lot to offer students who come from outside of Illinois
Unarguably, UIUC has one of the best first-year retention rates in the country. It has 93% of first-year students opting to return for the second year of study.
Hence this is to be compared to the national average freshman retention rate of only 69%. This is the same as the average for schools in Illinois. Though this high rate is impressive.