University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign admits approximately 43.7% of applicants, meaning roughly 4 in 10 applicants receive offers of admission. This places UIUC in the selective tier, with admission standards that require strong academic preparation but remain more accessible than highly competitive institutions. The peer median admission rate of 78.1% highlights that UIUC maintains significantly higher academic standards than typical four-year institutions, with acceptance rates 34.4 percentage points lower than peer institutions. This level of selectivity means that admitted students have demonstrated consistent academic excellence, though the institution remains accessible to a broader range of well-prepared applicants than elite private universities. Students should approach UIUC as a competitive option that requires solid academic credentials but offers realistic admission prospects for students with strong preparation. The 43.7% acceptance rate suggests that students with academic profiles matching the institution's standards have reasonable chances of admission, making it an appropriate target school for academically strong students rather than a reach for most qualified applicants. Applicants should build balanced college lists that include institutions with both similar and higher acceptance rates to ensure adequate options.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
Admitted students at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign typically demonstrate exceptional academic preparation across standardized testing measures. The middle 50% of enrolled students score between 1270 and 1510 on the SAT, with a median of 1418. SAT Math scores range from 640 to 780, while SAT Verbal scores span from 630 to 730, indicating strong performance across both quantitative and verbal reasoning. ACT scores for the middle 50% range from 29 to 34, with a median of 32. These test score ranges place UIUC well above typical four-year institutions, with SAT scores averaging 220 points higher than the peer median of 1198 and ACT scores averaging 7 points above the peer median of 25. Students scoring within the 1270-1510 SAT range or 29-34 ACT range represent the typical academic profile of enrolled students, though students outside these ranges are admitted in smaller numbers. The 25th percentile represents students whose scores were lower than 75% of their peers, not minimum thresholds for admission. Students scoring below the 25th percentile face greater competitive disadvantage but should not assume automatic exclusion. For students whose test scores fall within these ranges, academic credentials align well with institutional expectations and support competitive applications. Students should consider whether their academic preparation matches this profile when evaluating UIUC as a target institution.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign enrolls a student body that combines academic excellence with meaningful diversity across economic and educational backgrounds. The institution enrolls 23.8% Pell-eligible students, indicating that roughly 1 in 4 students come from families with significant financial need. First-generation college students represent 24.9% of the student body, demonstrating the university's role in expanding educational access to students whose families lack college experience. Transfer students comprise 15.0% of enrollment, providing pathways for students from community colleges and other institutions. This composition suggests that while UIUC maintains selective academic standards, the institution successfully enrolls students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds rather than serving exclusively affluent populations. The substantial representation of Pell-eligible and first-generation students indicates that financial need does not preclude admission for academically qualified students. Students from lower-income families should recognize that nearly a quarter of their potential peers share similar economic backgrounds, while first-generation students can expect to find significant numbers of students navigating similar family college experiences. The 15% transfer share provides alternative pathways for students who may strengthen their academic records at other institutions before applying to UIUC.
Given UIUC's 43.7% acceptance rate and exceptional academic standards, most applicants face significant competition for admission. Students should build comprehensive college lists including institutions with higher acceptance rates but comparable outcomes.
Schools with comparable admission profiles — useful for building a balanced list.
Students who enroll at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign demonstrate strong persistence and completion outcomes across different demographic groups. The institution maintains a 94.3% first-year retention rate, meaning nearly all students who start as freshmen return for sophomore year, compared to the peer median of 83.7%. The six-year graduation rate reaches 84.9%, substantially higher than the peer median of 65.9%, indicating robust institutional support for degree completion. Pell-eligible students graduate at 80.1%, creating a 4.8 percentage point gap compared to the overall completion rate. This relatively modest gap suggests that the institution provides effective support systems for lower-income students, though some disparity in outcomes remains. The small completion gap indicates that students from lower-income backgrounds who gain admission can expect strong institutional support for degree completion. Prospective students should view these retention and graduation rates as indicators of the academic environment and support systems they will encounter. The high retention rate suggests that students who enroll find the academic and social environment conducive to continued enrollment, while the strong graduation rate indicates institutional effectiveness in supporting students through degree completion. Lower-income students should consider the 4.8 percentage point Pell gap when evaluating institutional fit, recognizing that while support exists, some additional challenges may require navigation.
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