Karia Kiritbhai Study Abroad Course Expert
Study Abroad Course Expert
The University of Kentucky, located in Lexington, is a large public research university with approximately 36,000 students. Admissions are moderately competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 92%. Its strongest programs include Pharmacy, Engineering, Business, and Health Sciences. The graduation rate is around 65–68%, and graduates report early career salaries of approximately INR 34–38 lakhs per annum ($41,000–46,000).
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, located in central Illinois, is a highly respected public research university with about 56,000 students on all campuses. Admissions are highly selective with an acceptance rate of about 79%. Illinois flagship programs are: Engineering, Computer Science, Business, and Agriculture. The graduation rate is high at about 84% - 86%, and graduates earn INR 68 - 74 lakhs in early career salary ($82,000 - $89,000).
| University of Kentucky | University of Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Programs | UG Programs -83 PG Programs -59 Doctorate Programs -19 | UG Programs -34 PG Programs -23 |
| Acceptance Rate | 92.4 % | 84.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6 SAT-1080 TOEFL-71 | IELTS-6 PTE-65 SAT-1030 TOEFL-79 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 29050 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 30126.25 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 54608 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 15144 [For UG Program] Hostel + Meal - 13060 Per Year |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 8.4/10 Read 4 reviews | 7.5/10 Read 4 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| exam scores | GMAT - 630/800GRE - 311/340IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 79/120 | Duolingo - 105/160IELTS - 6/9PTE - 50/90TOEFL - 79/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -47679 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - |
| application dates | Jan 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For Summer 2026 Intake) | Jan 15, 2026 (Final Deadline (March Start)) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Kentucky | University of Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1865 | 1969 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 15:1 |
| Male:Female | 45% Male, 55% Female | 51% Male, 49% Female |
| Hostel | #Housing & Food (with dependents) - $13070 #Housing & Food - $15912 #Housing & Food (without dependents) - $16016 #Housing & Food (with Parents) - $9610 | #Off campus (with family) - $3300 #On campus - $9760 |
| Weather |
University of Kentucky vs University of Illinois
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) regularly appears in the global top 100 and has world-class strengths in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, and Agriculture. The University of Kentucky (UK) typically appears in the global 500-600 level and has notable strengths in Pharmacy, Medicine, Agriculture, and Engineering. When it comes to global recognition Illinois is far superior, especially in STEM and business areas, however the University of Kentucky has some regional strengths in health sciences and applied agriculture.
General Information
Established in 1867, UIUC is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system, with approximately 56,000 students and strong reputation as one of the leading U.S. public research universities. The University of Kentucky, established in 1865 in Lexington, has approximately 32,000 students and is the flagship university of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, known for its medical center and agricultural heritage. Illinois provides a larger and more globally understood environment for educational research while the University of Kentucky provides a more regional campus with a strong healthcare focus.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
When it comes to acceptance rates UIUC tends to be more selective, with an acceptance rate of about 79%, whereas UK has a much higher acceptance rate of about 92%. UIUC is typically much more competitive for admission into programs like Engineering, Computer Science, and Business, whereas admission into programs like Nursing and Pharmacy are relatively high stakes at UK. Illinois usually attracts a more international application pool with higher admission thresholds while Kentucky stays broadly accessible with pockets of competitive entry.
Research Impact & Facilities
Both institutions rank as Research 1 universities, but UIUC is one of the highest research institutions in the country and has some of the best laboratories for engineering, computer science, agriculture, and physics in the world. There is also a lot of research being done with collaboration between the federal government and the university. The University of Kentucky leans towards medical research, pharmacy, research for cures for cancer, and agriculture studies. Their research is anchored by their significant medical campus and applied sciences emphasis. On the large, the University of Illinois ranks higher in terms of size and global reach, but research at the University of Kentucky ranks higher in terms of regional impact.
Cost & Financial Aid
Tuition cost for international students, on average, is around $37,000 - $40,000 per year for the University of Illinois and $32,000 - $35,000 for the University of Kentucky. The cost of living on the Urbana-Champaign campus is relatively less expensive than living in Lexington, although both cities average significantly lower than urban metropolitan areas. Both institutions offer merit-based scholarship opportunities, with the University of Illinois looking primarily at students with a very strong emphasis on excellence in STEM fields. The University of Kentucky offer students more financial aid for their healthcare programs and state priority programs.
Career Destinations & Graduates' Success
Overall, students graduating from the University of Illinois are sought after in global engineering, computer science, finance, and research career paths. The University of Illinois benefits from having an alumni network that has over 600,000 alumni only in the United States, making it one of the largest and most influential professional networks available in the United States. Graduates from the University of Kentucky have a high rate of success in healthcare, pharmacy, and agriculture fields, as well locally and regionally across other industries. Students at the University of Illinois have the prestige of being an international institution and being connected with corporations and other professionals around the world. Graduates from the University of Kentucky dominant in regional and local opportunities in healthcare and other technical-related opportunities.
