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

By Kelly Boyer Sagert

(Last Updated – 08/2022)

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a 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 has been ranked #15 as a public university. It has 51,000-plus students from all 50 states and more than 100 counties. Specialities at UIUC include research and the arts with 29 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to people connected to the university.

Costs for 2021-22

Although books and supplies and other expenses have remained the same since at least 2018-2019, there have been slight increases in in-state and out-of-state tuition costs.

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 $61,000 or less.

During the 2020-2021 academic year, 85% of full-time beginning undergraduates received some sort of financial aid. More specifically:

•  Grants or scholarship aid: 82% with an average of $11,212

•  Federal grants: 45% with an average of $4,144

•  Pell grants: 26% with an average of $5,106

•  Other federal: 44% with an average of $1,147

•  State or local grants/scholarships: 34% with an average amount of $6,097

•  Institutional grants and scholarships: 80% with an average amount of $6,633

•  Student loan aid: 34% with an average amount of $6,428

•  Federal student loans: 33% with an average of $4,889

•  Other student loans: 8% with an average of $7,014

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students that 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, and 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, and financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and non-profit 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 and federal and school deadlines may differ.

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

•  US 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 2020-2021, first-time undergraduates received 8% 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 state-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 throughout the year, private loans can potentially help you make your 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 2021-2022 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tuition for on-campus students of $15,442 the cost of four years at UIUC would be $61,768. This does not account for any price increases.

•  Total on-campus expenses in-state: $31,636

•  Total on-campus expenses, out of state: $49,086

That year, the average total cost for a four-year public university was $15,900, in state, making the University of Illinois 99% higher, and $19,600 out of state, making it 150% higher.

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 2020-2021 was as follows:

•  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tuition and fees in-state: $15,442

•  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tuition and fees out-of-state: $32,892

•  Books and supplies: $1,079

•  On-campus room and board: $12,494

•  On campus, other expenses: $2,500

Graduate Tuition and Fees

For the 2020-2021 academic year, graduate tuition fees were:

•  In state: $17,912

•  Out of state: $30,083

If the same costs are used for graduates as undergraduates, and if graduate students lived on campus, their costs would be:

•  Books and supplies: $1,200

•  On-campus room and board: $12,494

•  On campus, other expenses: $2,500

According to 2019-2020 figures, the average graduate school tuition in the U.S. is $12,410. In comparison, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tuition, in-state, for graduate students is 44.3% higher than the national average.

Cost per Credit Hour

IUIC lists 2022-2023 cost per credit hour rates for online classes for a “non-degree-seeking undergraduate student.” Those costs range from $416 to $1,110 per credit hour. For students pursuing a degree, based on the most recent tuition rates for on-campus undergraduates of $15,442, and assuming 15 credit hours per semester, the cost per credit hour would be $514.

Campus Housing Expenses

For the academic year of 2020-2021, housing expenses were:

The IUIC website provides information about off-campus housing. Examples of listings include a two-bedroom studio apartment in the medical district ranging from $1,755-$3,384, and a one-bedroom apartment in Morningside South costing $1,750-$,2,800. Note that apartment rentals often require a full one-year lease.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Acceptance Rate

In fall 2020, there were 43,473 applicants, and 27,520 students were accepted, which makes the UIUC acceptance rate 63.3%.

Admission Requirements

As you fill out the application form, list your high school classes and grades exactly as they are on your transcripts, and list honors, awards, and extracurricular activities.

You can choose to provide ACT/SAT scores with your application or wait until you actually enroll. If you report them, enter the highest ACT composite and/or SAT total without superscoring along with the highest subscores. The domestic application fee is $50.

You can apply as early as September 1 with November 1 being the priority admission deadline with all required items turned in by November 10. The regular admission deadline is January 5 with all required items due in by January 15.

SAT and ACT Scores

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

Seventy-five percent of applicants submitted SAT scores while 50% submitted ACT scores. The 25th and 75th percentile figures are as follows:

Popular Majors at U of I Urbana-Champaign

The university recently awarded 8,630 bachelor’s degrees in more than two dozen 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., More than 300 students are involved in research projects each semester. Recently, 6.1% of undergraduates earned this degree.

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. Recently, 4.9% of graduating undergraduates completed this BS degree program.

3. Accounting

The accounting program at UIUC has been ranked as the third best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. In this program, the university prepares students to become business leaders. Recently, 4.3% of undergraduates completed this degree.

4. 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. Recently, 3.8% of undergraduates received a bachelor’s degree in this field.

5. Computer Science

Students can pair their undergraduate computer science degree with these specialties: advertising, animal sciences, anthropology, astronomy, chemistry, crop sciences, economics, and education—with 3.5% of undergraduates completing a computer science degree.

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. Recently, 3.2% of bachelor degrees awarded were in this specialty.

7. Economics

People majoring in this degree learn about wealth creation, consumption, and transfer at a micro and macro level. Recently, 3.0% of bachelor’s degrees were given in this area of study.

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. Recently, 2.8% of graduating undergraduates completed this degree.

9. Electrical and Electronics Engineering

In this bachelor degree program, students master foundational skills to help them on their path to becoming engineers. This creates an opportunity for theoretical and hands-on learning with 2.8% of recent undergraduates earning this degree.

10. 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. Recently, 2.6% of graduating undergraduates earned this degree.

Graduation Rate

Graduation rates for students earning bachelor degrees are:

•  4 years: 70%

•  6 years: 84%

•  6 years: 86%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

Median earnings for UIUC grads are $71,539—49.4% higher than the average of $47,891 for graduates of four year colleges.