University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a public research university located in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States. According to the official website, the university has an acceptance rate of around 36.6%. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers Fall, Spring, and limited Summer intakes depending on the program. The Fall intake is the primary and most preferred admission cycle.
UIUC Admissions 2026–2027:
- Undergraduate Early Action: November 1, 2026 (tentative)
- Undergraduate Regular Decision: January 5, 2027 (tentative)
- Graduate programs: Deadlines vary by department, generally ranging from January 2027 to May 2027 for Fall intake applications.
Applicants can apply through the MyIllini portal (for undergraduate programs) or the UIUC Graduate College application portal for master’s and professional courses. The application fee is $75 (₹7,006) for undergraduate applicants and $90 (₹8,408) for graduate applicants. Key eligibility requirements include strong academic performance, official transcripts, essays or SOP, letters of recommendation, and resumes. International students are required to submit English proficiency test scores, such as TOEFL or IELTS, and some graduate programs may also require GRE or GMAT scores, depending on the field of study.
Also check: USA study guide for Indian students
INR conversions used: 1 USD = ₹93.45 (as of 21 April 2026).
UIUC Undergraduate Deadlines 2026
There are two available intakes at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign:
- Fall Intake (Primary Intake): This is the main and most preferred intake, where almost all undergraduate programs are available. Classes usually begin in August/September.
- Spring Intake (Limited): A secondary intake with limited availability, as only selected undergraduate programs accept students. Classes usually start in January.
Admissions for Fall 2026 at UIUC are now closed, as all application deadlines have passed. The deadlines listed below are tentative and based on the university’s standard admission cycle. They are provided for students planning to apply for the Fall 2027 intake.
| Application Stage | Tentative Deadline (Fall 2027) |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | September 1, 2026 |
| Early Action (Priority) Deadline | November 1, 2026 |
| Regular Decision Deadline | January 5, 2027 |
| Admission Decision (RD) | By March (early–mid), 2027 |
| Enrollment Reply Deadline | May 1, 2027 |
Also read: Total cost of attendance for Indian students at UIUC
UIUC Graduate Deadlines 2026
On behalf of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, graduate programs are offered across multiple intakes, but availability varies by department. The university primarily focuses on the Fall intake, with limited options in other terms.
- Fall Intake (Primary): Main intake with the maximum number of programs available; starts in August.
- Spring Intake (Limited): Starts in January; only selected programs are open, and funding opportunities are fewer.
- Summer Intake (Rare): Begins around May/June; offered by very few departments and is not common for most degrees.
| Course | Fall Deadlines |
|---|---|
| Master of Science | January 15, 2027 (tentative) |
| Master of Engineering | May 1, 2026 |
UIUC Admission Decisions
For international students, the admission decision process at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign differs for undergraduate and graduate programs, mainly in terms of structure and timelines.
- Undergraduate (UG) admission decisions at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are centralised and released in fixed rounds between January and March. Applicants may receive admission, deferral, waitlist, or denial, and in some cases, an alternate major may be offered.
- Graduate (PG) admission decisions at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are handled by individual departments, so there is no fixed timeline. Most decisions are released between February and April, though this varies by program, and some courses may follow a rolling process.
UIUC Popular Courses for Indian Students
UIUC provides more than 150 undergraduate programs and over 100 graduate programs across a wide range of academic disciplines.
- Course duration also differs by program type, with MS programs typically 1.5–2 years, MEng programs around 1 year, and undergraduate degrees 4 years, affecting total cost and return on investment.
- Several popular programs like MS Computer Science and MEng ECE are highly competitive, with limited seats and strong academic requirements, making early preparation important.
| Course Name | Course Duration | Annual Fees in USD | Annual Fees in INR | Admission Tips for Indian Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Computer Science | 2 years | $39,344 | ₹36.77 lakh | Strong coding background with research/projects and high GRE/academic performance is essential. |
| MS Finance | 15 months | $67,800 | ₹63.36 lakh | Requires strong quantitative skills, internships, and a solid GMAT/GRE score. |
| MBA | 2 years | $21,600 | ₹20.19 lakh | Needs work experience, a leadership profile, and a strong GMAT. |
| MS Information Management | 2 years | $28,632 | ₹26.76 lakh | Focus on data, analytics experience, and relevant internships or projects. |
| MEng Electrical and Computer Engineering | 1 year | $39,344 | ₹36.77 lakh | Strong engineering fundamentals and project-based experience are important. |
| BS Mathematics and Computer Science | 4 years | $46,944 | ₹43.87 lakh | High school math excellence and strong standardised test scores improve chances. |
| BS Computer Science | 4 years | $42,868 | ₹40.06 lakh | Competitive course, requires strong maths and coding exposure. |
| BS Environmental Geology | 4 years | $49,742 | ₹46.48 lakh | A strong science background and interest in environmental studies help. |
| BS Interdisciplinary Psychology | 4 years | $39,392 | ₹36.81 lakh | Good academic consistency and interest in behavioural sciences are key. |
| BA Human Evolutionary Biology | 4 years | $39,392 | ₹36.81 lakh | A strong biology background and interest in research-oriented learning are preferred. |
Take a look at the U.S. student visa requirements for Indian students.
UIUC Admission Requirements for Indian Students
At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, there is no fixed minimum percentage or cutoff published by UIUC for UG students. Admissions are based on overall academic performance and profile strength.
| Particulars | Undergraduate Requirements | Graduate Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Application Portal | MyIllini application portal | UIUC Graduate College online application portal |
| Common Application | ||
| Application Fee | $75 (₹7,006) | $90 (₹8,408) |
| Academic Requirement | Applicants must have completed secondary school (Class 12 or equivalent), which qualifies them to attend a competitive university in their home country. | You must have a 3 or 4-year bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from a recognised Indian university with a minimum 55%. |
| Documents Required | Academic transcripts | Personal statement | Essay | Resume | LOR | Transcripts | LORs | Essays | SOP | Resume/CV | Degree certificate | portfolio |
| English Language Requirements | TOEFL: 79 or more | IELTS: 6.5 or more | TOEFL: 5 | IELTS: 7.5 | Duolingo: 135 |
Check out: External scholarships available for international students to study in the USA

UIUC Acceptance Rate
According to U.S. News, UIUC has an estimated acceptance rate of 42%. The data mentioned below is taken from the official undergraduate admissions statistics published on the UIUC admissions portal for the most recent freshman admission cycle.
| Year (Admission Cycle) | Applications | Admitted Students | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–2024 | 83,045 | 30,384 | 36.6% |
This data reflects the most recent officially published freshman admission cycle for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Acceptance rates may vary slightly across sources due to differences in reporting cycles and updated applicant pools.
Check out: Global and subject rankings of UIUC
UIUC has a selective admission process, with an undergraduate acceptance rate of around 36.6%. Admission is not based on a fixed cutoff, but on overall academic performance, course requirements, essays, recommendations, and other supporting documents.
For admissions, undergraduate applicants apply through the MyIllini portal or Common Application, while graduate applicants use the UIUC Graduate College portal. International students are also required to submit English proficiency scores such as TOEFL or IELTS, and some graduate programs may require GRE or GMAT scores, depending on the course.
Undergraduate decisions are released in fixed rounds between January and March, while graduate decisions are handled by individual departments and are typically released between February and April, though timelines vary by program. Deadlines also differ by intake, with Fall being the primary cycle and Spring or Summer available only for selected programs.
FAQs
Ques. What GRE score is considered competitive for admission to UIUC graduate programs?
Ans. While UIUC does not publish a strict cutoff, a competitive GRE score is generally around 310–320+ combined (Quantitative + Verbal) for most STEM graduate programs, with higher scores preferred for highly selective programs like Computer Science or Engineering.
Ques. Can students at UIUC switch their major after admission?
Ans. Yes, UIUC allows major changes, but switching into highly competitive programs like Computer Science or Engineering is difficult and usually requires strong academic performance and approval from the respective college.
Ques. Is work experience required for graduate programs at UIUC?
Ans. Work experience is not mandatory for all graduate programs, but it is strongly recommended for professional degrees like MBA, as it significantly strengthens the application profile.
College Student Profiles
UI-Urbana Program Fees & Deadlines
| Program | Important Dates | Fees | Application Fees | Eligibility | Financial Aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M.S Computer Science 2 years Course Offered by: | INR 36.6 L/Yr USD 39,344 /Yr | 90 | GPA: 3.0, TOEFL: 4, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo-115 | - | |
MS Finance 15 months Course Offered by: | Round 4 Application Submission Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake (10th Jun 2026) | INR 63 L/Yr USD 67,800 /Yr | 90 | TOEFL- 4, IELTS- 6.5, Duolingo- 115 | - |
MBA 2 years Course Offered by: | Fall Priority 2 Deadline (7th May 2026) Final Deadline (August Start) (4th Jun 2026) Final Deadline (October Start) (6th Aug 2026) | INR 20.1 L/Yr USD 21,600 /Yr | 90 | GPA- 3.0, TOEFL- 4, IELTS- 6.5, Duolingo- 115 | - |
MS Information Management 2 years | INR 26.6 L/Yr USD 28,632 /Yr | 90 | GPA- 3.0, TOEFL- 4, IELTS- 6.5, Duolingo- 115 | - | |
Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake (1st May 2026) Application Deadline For Spring 2027 Intake (1st Oct 2026) | INR 36.6 L/Yr USD 39,344 /Yr | 90 | - | - | |
MS Financial Engineering 15 months | INR 43.8 L/Yr USD 47,100 /Yr | 90 | GPA- 3.5, TOEFL- 4, IELTS- 6.5, Duolingo- 115 | - | |
MS Technology Management 1 year | Round 4 Application Deadline for Fall Intake (30th Apr 2026) | INR 44.1 L/Yr USD 47,452 /Yr | 90 | GPA- 3.0, TOEFL- 4, IELTS- 6.5, Duolingo- 115 | - |
MS Aerospace Engineering 2 years | Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake (8th Oct 2026) Application Deadline For Fall 2027 Intake (1st Dec 2026) | INR 36.6 L/Yr USD 39,344 /Yr | 90 | GPA- 3.0, TOEFL- 4, IELTS- 6.5, Duolingo- 115 | |
M.S Electrical and Computer Engineering 2 years Course Offered by: | INR 36.6 L/Yr USD 39,344 /Yr | 90 | GPA: 3.0, TOEFL: 4, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo-115 | - | |
M.Ed Educational Psychology 2 years | INR 28.2 L/Yr USD 30,356 /Yr | 90 | GPA: 3.0, TOEFL: 4, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo-115 | - |
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Important Alerts
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Master of Business Administration [MBA] Fall Priority 2 Deadline | Closing in 13 days |
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Reviews
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19 Reviews Found
Likes
- Excellent programs, especially for STEM
- Beautiful campus, with many old buildings, and many libraries. Great public transport bus system.
- I love the weather! Even though it can get a bit cold in the winters, I don't mind it
Dislikes
- The CU area is small. It is a small town in the middle of cornfields, so not a lot happens outside of the campus areas for students.
- Socializing, especially as a grad student in one of the smaller majors is not the easiest
- Traveling to any other part of the US can be a bit annoying, as you would need to catch flights out of Chicago which is a 2.5 hrs road journey away
Scholarship
- I did not receive any scholarships or financial aid. It is not very common for the Stats department. In fact scholarships for international students in the US are rare, in general.
- You can get your tuition waved off for certain courses, if you get some assistantship positions. For certain programs, it is a requirement for all grad students, but that is not the norm.









Likes
- One of the most important things about the college experience is the ability to have good experiences. This is an integral reason to pursue a degree abroad. At UIUC, there are numerous places where you can go in your free time and enjoy. UIUC is a prominent party college and the parties there live up to their reputation. There are also numerous activities on campus that one can do, like bowling, play all kinds of sports and take a stroll in the beautiful gardens.
- The academics are great. The teachers are extremely helpful and will give you extra attention if you need. The office hours are critical in revising certain difficult concepts. The professors are willing to put in extra efforts for individual students as well and questions are answered in class as well as after.
- The people are especially warm to everyone and there is not even a hint of racism. The community is very progressive and accepting of people from all walks of life.
Dislikes
- There is a lot of use of substances across campus, drugs and alcohol are prevalent so that is something to be aware about. People are also doing this in the open so it is helpful to be careful.
- The academics might be incredibly good but you also need to put efforts because it is equally difficult. The level of the students is extremely high and it is critical that you do not leave anything for the last minute. The grading is also extremely difficult.
- The food is great but it is quite expensive so it is good to keep a check on your spending. The dining hall is fine but not all too great. Additionally, there are minimal choices for people that are vegetarian.
Scholarship
- I did not receive any scholarship during my time at the university.
- As far as I know, there are no scholarships available for international students but there are numerous scholarships available for US citizens and more for instate students.
- I do not know of any of the specifics about scholarships for American citizens and I know 5 batchmates who received scholarships but there were American citizens.

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 - Mihir Mehta.jpeg)
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 - Mihir Mehta.jpeg)
 - Mihir Mehta.jpeg)

 - Mihir Mehta.jpeg)
Likes
- Campus ,Faculty
- Small town allowing for quiet surroundings and low cost of living compared to other cities
- Flexibility in Curriculum
Dislikes
- Large Class Sizes
- Closest Marketplace is an hour away from campus by bus
- Weather Extremes
Scholarship
-
The iSchool offers a small number of recruitment scholarships distributed among incoming MS in Library and Information Science (online and on-campus) and MS in Information Management programs (online and on-campus) during their first semester.
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I have not received this scholarship, but it is approximately 6000 dollars reduced on the tuition fees.
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Likes
- A very big course, plenty of opportunities to do part time. Hundreds of professors, thousands of positions and a lot of scores for assistantships.
- A good campus, cheap housing, lots to do. Reputed university.
- Good reputation, helpful people, good student community
Dislikes
- It is too cold and weather becomes extreme
- It becomes a ghost town during breaks like winter.
- Commute is from the airport. Chicago is 3 hours away
Overview
It is a tedious task. Had to compare a lot of colleges. Checked college ratings, their syllabus, cost, tuition fees etc. It required lots of hours to commit in order to shortlist and finalize a university.
Scholarship
I got awarded a Teaching Assistantship where my entire tuition fees was completely waived off and I was getting a stipend of 2598 every month which covered my monthly living expenses like housing, food, utilities etc.
Likes
- Campus: The school is a home to many students. It has a really huge and beautiful campus with loads of fun things to do around, amazing restaurants, great places to hang around, and a huge library!
- Academics: The professors in my program are really knowledgeable and helpful. I really enjoyed the lectures!
- Course Curriculum: There were 3 compulsory courses out of 10. This gave me a leverage to take up any of the courses that aligned with my interests.
Dislikes
- Class size: There were around 90 students due to which sometimes the seats got full to a particular class of a particular professor too quickly and I had to take that course next semester.
Overview
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a prestigious school. It is renowned for academic excellence, especially in my field, that is computer science and data analytics. The MSIM program that I had taken was a perfect blend of technology and management, which aligned with my career aspirations.
Overview
No interview I had to submit an essay saying why I wanted to join It was a fun party school and it was also good for studying I really loved it. It was really fun I made a lot of friends and my major was not particularly hard so really happy about that.
Scholarship
No
Overview
I chose this university because of Fees, reputation for CS, reputed Faculty and research and program Structure. Overall the experience is very good.
Scholarship
No
Likes
- UIUC has excellent research faculty and ample opportunities for someone to get the taste of academic research while keeping up to date with industry requirements.
Dislikes
- Weather can be a bit poor especially during the winter season. The campus is a bit out of nowhere, so not a great place for people looking for a busy city life.
Overview
I had to submit SOP and 3 LORs along with my CV. I highlighted my academic background and work experience in the SOP. University ranking, fully funded program and a good research group My overall experience at UIUC was excellent. I joined for a masters program and decided to continue with the PhD. I had an excellent advisor and research group. I learned a lot and made good connections. The overall campus life has something for everyone.
Scholarship
I got the tuition waiver and assistantship stipend of around 2500$ per month.
Likes
- Reputation of the university and access to a major city. College town with multiple sports teams, bars and accessible/affordable housing
Overview
My college experience so far has been very rewarding because I have grown tremendously as a person and as a learner. Been able to learn to adapt to new circumstances and adjust to variations to normal life and adversity. Been able to control mood swings from excitement to disappointment. Also formed great relationships with amazing people around me.
Scholarship
No scholarship.
Likes
- I wanted a change that would make me become more mature and independent. This school was far from my house but not that far in the case I wanted to visit
Overview
It is going great, I’m still adjusting to the classes but honestly I feel behind in all of them. I need to gain a better understanding on all my courses, but other than that this university is so good. You have so many opportunities at your fingertips and you won’t get a better education than here.
Scholarship
Presidential Scholarship for 10k a year.

























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