University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a highly ranked public research university in Urbana and Champaign, Illinois, USA. It is a big institution with around 33,000 undergraduate students. The admissions are comparatively competitive with an overall acceptance rate of around 43.7%. Some of the top majors are Engineering, Business, Computer Science, Biological Sciences, and Social Sciences. Six-year graduation is at about 86%, and Illinois graduates have a median starting salary of about INR 8,50,000 (about $11,000 median income ten years after graduation).
Illinois State University is a reputable public university located in Normal, Illinois, USA. It is a mid-size university with about 20,000 undergraduate students. Admissions are not very competitive, with an overall acceptance rate of approximately 89%. Popular majors are Education, Business, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, and Arts. The six-year graduation rate is around 72%, and Illinois State graduates earn a median starting salary of approximately INR 5,80,000 (approximately $7,500 median income a decade after graduation).
| University of Illinois | Illinois State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6 Out of 10 | 4.1 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 41 Times Higher Education 2026 # 70 QS World University 2026 # 22 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 1401 QS World University 2025 # 1789 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 209 US News 2024 |
| Programs | UG Programs -162 PG Programs -104 Doctorate Programs -4 | UG Programs -127 PG Programs -46 |
| Acceptance Rate | 43.7 % | 89.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1340 TOEFL-79 | Duolingo-105 IELTS-6.5 PTE-53 TOEFL-79 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 43996 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 27323.63 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 14522 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 26950 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 18012 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 23948 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | 89% of graduates were employed or were working within 6 months of graduation. 5,700+ companies visited for campus recruitment. Average Salaries of The Degree :
| The top-paid graduates from the following departments: engineering (average salary: $69,188), computer science (average salary: $67,539), and math and sciences degrees (average salary: $62,177). |
| application requirements | 4 years of English and 3 to 3.5 years of Maths at high school level is required for UG admission; 300 to 400 words answer to Essay questions given by university; minimum 55% in bachelors for graduate admission | Submit official transcripts Submit official test scores if applicable Submit English language proficiency test scores Check program specific requirements |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.9/10 Read 19 reviews | 7.7/10 Read 4 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 55 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 99 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 201 for Business by Academy Ranking of World Universities 2021 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 115/160IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 79/120 | Duolingo - 105/160IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 79/120 |
| application dates | Jan 15, 2026 (Final Application Deadline for March Start) | Dec 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake) Apr 1, 2026 (Application Deadline For Summer 2026 Intake) Aug 1, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 130/160IELTS - 7.5/9TOEFL - 100/120 | Duolingo - 105/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 56/90TOEFL - 79/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -66358 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -26950 |
| application dates | Jan 5, 2026 (Regular Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Jan 5, 2027 (Regular Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Nov 1, 2026 (Early Action Application Deadline For 2025 Intake) | Nov 1, 2024 (Priority Application Deadline For Fall 2025 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Illinois | Illinois State University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1867 | 1857 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 21:1 | 18:1 |
| Male:Female | 55% Male, 45% Female | 45% Male, 55% Female |
| Location Facts | UIUC is located a few hours from Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis in east-central Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. | The campus is located at 100 North University street in Illinois. |
| Library | UIUC Library is one of the largest public university collections with over 24 million resources. Consists of 14 million volumes in 37 unit libraries. 53,000,000 people visit the online catalog every year. | Milner Library provides students with study resources that include leisure and study seating; research assistance; access to over a million-and-a-half books and over 100,000 periodicals; digital collections; campus uLab; ubiquitous wireless; multimedia center; collaboration stations; and printing, copying, and scanning options. |
| Campus Life | Campus facilities include multipurpose State Farm Center (16,500 seats); Memorial Stadium (70,000 seats), site of Big Ten Conference football games; the Activities & Recreation Center (ARC), Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Krannert Art Museum & Kinkead Pavilion, Spurlock Museum, 4 theatres, 24 residence halls, etc. | Illinois State is home to over 400 registered student organizations or "RSOs". These organizations can range from intramural sports to branches of nationally recognized student organizations. Illinois State University also boasts one of the largest student spirit organizations in the United States, RED ALERT. The university has a state of the art fitness center of which every student becomes a member automatically. University also offers various health services, counselling services to the students. There are also on campus residences and dining halls on the campus. Students get involved in various sports like football, basketball, swimming etc. |
| Hostel | #Food & Housing - $14522 | #Housing & Food - $11754 #Housing & Food - $12194 |
| Famous Alumni | One of the largest alumni networks in the USA with 470,000+ alumni. 30 Nobel laureates, 2 Turing Award winners, 1 Fields medalist, 29 Pulitzer Prizes. John Bardeen (Nobel laureate); Jawed Karim and Steve Chen (Co-founders of YouTube); Jack Welch (former CEO of General Electric); Sushanth (Indian actor) | Tricia Griffith, CEO for The Progressive Corporation. The first woman named as Fortune Magazine's Businessperson of the Year in 2018. Patti S. Hart, Vice chairman of International Game Technology. She was named one of the "50 Most Powerful Women in Business" in 1998 by Fortune magazine. Todd Heisler – photojournalist and winner of Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography Norbert Blei – author of the Chicago trilogy of Neighborhoods, The Ghost of Sandburg-Es Phizzog, and Chi Town. |
| City Life | Illinois is located at the industrial belt and fertile agriculture land of USA; its economy is supported by manufacturing, agriculture, mining, transportation, and tourism sector; unemployment rate was 4.2% in March 2020; major attractions are Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry, and Field Museum of National History | Normal is said to be a safe-feeling, quiet place to walk around and live in. The FBI crime stats show normal with a crime rate one-half that of the US average, making Normal IL a safe place to live. For being among countless amenities and numerous attractions, the beautiful town of Normal is cheap and affordable for all that it offers. The cost of living score sits at 84.2 – nearly 16% below the state average. The areas in Normal are perceived to be the ideal mix of peaceful, family-friendly neighborhoods. Northeast Normal tends to be the most desirable due to the upper-income residential areas, whereas the northwest has the most affordable housing. |
| Weather |
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign vs Illinois State University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a globally ranked university, while Illinois State University (ISU) has regional ranking. UIUC ranks 70th in the QS World University Rankings 2026, while ISU does not feature. UIUC is 46th, as per the Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 2026, and ISU is not ranked. In US News Global Rankings 2026, UIUC ranks 109th, and ISU ranks 1945th. UIUC is especially strong in the fields of engineering, computer science, business, and social sciences, whereas ISU is renowned for education, business, and applied programs.
General Information
Illinois State University, which was established in 1857 in Normal, Illinois, is a public institution with around 21,000 students, focusing on teacher education, business, and applied sciences.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which was founded in 1867, is a flagship public research university with around 51,000 students. It is globally known for its research productivity, innovation, and diverse fields of study in engineering, business, and sciences.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Illinois State University is extremely open with an acceptance rate of 89%, which makes it very accessible to the majority of applicants.
UIUC is much more competitive, with an acceptance rate of 43.7%, mirroring intense competition to its highly regarded programs, particularly in computer science, business, and engineering.
Research Impact & Facilities
ISU has a emphasis on applied research and teacher preparation, with strong regional research reach, most notably in business, health, and education.
UIUC is an R1 research institution, with premier facilities in engineering, computer science, agriculture, and business, and broad partnerships with international research entities and industry partners.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both universities provide financial aid, scholarships, and grants. ISU generally has lower tuition fees, while UIUC offers broader merit-based scholarships and research funding opportunities for high-achieving students.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
ISU graduates generally perform well regionally in education, business, and government.
UIUC graduates enjoy a strong international reputation with graduates being employed in the fields of technology, engineering, research, business, and academia, and enjoy a large alumni network and industry contacts.
