University of Illinois (U of I) Urbana-Champaign Tuition and Fees

By Kelly Boyer Sagert

(Last Updated – 06/2025)

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a highly rated four-year public research university located in Champaign, Illinois. It’s the flagship of the University of Illinois system and offers degrees ranging from bachelor’s to doctoral.

Read on for insights into admissions requirements, the UIUC acceptance rate, fees for tuition and housing, popular majors, and much more.

Total Cost of Attendance

Founded in 1867, the university was ranked #9 as a public university in the 2024-25 U.S. News & World Report ratings. It has 59,000-plus students from all 50 states and more than 100 counties. The most recent freshman class, at 9,008, was the largest in the school’s history. Specialties at UIUC include research and the arts, with 27 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to the university’s graduates and faculty.

Although the cost of books and supplies and other expenses have remained the same since at least 2021-2022, there have been slight increases in in-state and out-of-state tuition costs over time.

Financial Aid

Application reviews at UIUC are “need blind,” which means the university doesn’t consider a student’s ability to pay when making acceptance decisions. This can help students who may find the tuition and other costs beyond financial reach. In addition, the university has an “Illinois Commitment,” which is the university’s promise to cover tuition and campus fees for Illinois residents with a family income of $75,000 or less as of Fall 2025.

During the 2024-25 academic year, 61% of full-time beginning undergraduates received some sort of financial aid. More specifically:

•  Grants or scholarship aid: 48% with an average of $17,524

•  Federal grants: 22% with an average of $5,623

•  Pell grants: 21% with an average of $5,482

•  Other federal: 10% with an average of $324

•  State or local grants/scholarships: 31% with an average amount of $7,583

•  Institutional grants and scholarships: 45% with an average amount of $10,783

•  Student loan aid: 30% with an average amount of $7,193

•  Federal student loans: 30% with an average of $4,972

•  Other student loans: 7% with an average of $9,855

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students who qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

Recommended: Scholarship Search – College Scholarships Finder Tool

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, or nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and nonprofit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state, federal, and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  U.S. Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

In 2022-23, first-time undergraduates received 7% of their loan funding through “other” student loans, meaning not from federal sources.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While Federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans, which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, as it generally may have better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

Using the 2024-25 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign cost for on-campus students, the cost of four years at UIUC would be $136,904 for in-state students. For out-of-state students, it would be $213,384.

•  Total on-campus cost of attendance in state: $34,226

•  Total on-campus cost of attendance out of state: $53,346

Compare this to the national average cost of attendance of $28,840 for in-state college students and $46,730 for out-of-state attendees.

Here’s some Illinois Student Loan & Scholarship Information for you.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tuition in the academic year of 2024-25 was as follows:

•  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tuition and fees in-state: $16,004

•  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tuition and fees out-of-state: $35,124

•  Books: $1,200

Graduate Tuition and Fees

For the 2024-25 academic year, graduate tuition and fees averaged:

•  In-state: $15,986

•  Out-of-state: $31,114

The average graduate student in the U.S. pays $10,320 per year at a public university and $15,100 per year at a private nonprofit school. In comparison, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tuition cost, in-state, for graduate students is higher than the national average.

Cost per Credit Hour

IUIC lists 2023-24 cost per credit hour ranging from $424 for in-state residents to $1,041 for nonresidents.

Campus Housing Expenses

The IUIC website lists 2024-2025 on-campus housing costs for undergraduates at $14,522, and other expenses as $2,500. That brings campus housing expenses to $17,022.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Acceptance Rate

In fall 2022, there were 67,398 applicants, and 29,655 students were accepted, which makes the UIUC acceptance rate 44%.

Admission Requirements

UIUC has a test-optional policy. You don’t have to provide test scores to apply. You do, however, need to submit your high school record, a personal statement, and possibly proof of English proficiency.

SAT and ACT Scores

Test score policies are optional for first-year students, including international ones, homeschooled ones, and recruited student-athletes.

In Fall 2023, 47% of applicants submitted SAT scores while 18% submitted ACT scores. The 25th and 75th percentile figures are as follows:

Popular Majors at U of I Urbana-Champaign

The university offers more than 150 undergraduate areas of study. Some of the most popular degrees include the following.

1. Research and Experimental Psychology

IUIC offers undergraduates plenty of opportunities to participate in psych research. Hundreds of students are involved in research projects each semester.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 531

2. Computer Engineering

Students study computer science and engineering for this degree, and also take plenty of math and science courses to gain broad competencies.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 396

3. Accounting

The accounting program at UIUC has been ranked as the second best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. In this program, the university prepares students to become business leaders.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 314

4. Computer Science

Students can pair their undergraduate computer science degree with these specialties: advertising, animal sciences, anthropology, astronomy, chemistry, crop sciences, economics, and education.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 311

5. Cellular and Molecular Biology

Students study a wide range of sciences while also gaining a strong foundation in math. Courses include molecular biology, microbiology, physiology, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 288

6. Finance

Undergraduates receive education in finance theory along with the analytical tools they’ll need to have careers in financial management, banking/investments, insurance, real estate, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 263

7. Agricultural Economics

Students learn the fundamentals of business and economics to apply them specifically to agricultural-related challenges along with those connected to energy, the environment, and consumer protection.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 254

8. Communications

This degree is part of a broad liberal arts perspective, allowing students to learn about effective communication, develop those skills, and learn how to help others.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 233

9. Mechanical Engineering

In this bachelor degree program, students master foundational skills to help them on their path to becoming mechanical engineers, which can involve design, building, and modernization of machinery.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 228

10. Political Science and Government

Students majoring in this degree gain a broad understanding of government, politics, and public policy.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 219

Graduation Rate

The graduation rate for Fall 2017 students earning bachelor degrees is:

•  6 years: 85%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

Median earnings for UIUC grads are $69,000, which is a bit higher than the average of $68,516 for graduates of four-year colleges.