University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
UIUC publishes 37% (Fall 2025 entering first-year class). College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmen applicants got in at 49%; computer science (major, within grainger colle at 7.4%.
Acceptance rate
What UIUC's 37% is made of
The published rate averages groups with very different odds. These are the splits UIUC reports itself.
By college or major
Fall 2025 entering first-year class (degree-seeking, first-time, first-year applicants)
Read the full decomposition →Transfer
Fall 2025 degree-seeking transfer applicants (CDS 2025-26, Section D2) · as of August 2026 · 1.2× easier than first-year
Read the transfer analysis →Part of Real Acceptance Rates, our series decomposing published rates from each school's own Common Data Set.
Testing
Test-Optional for 2026-27
- Policy
'Illinois is test-optional. You can choose whether to include ACT or SAT scores.' Applicants who omit test scores may need to submit an English-language proficiency test instead (international applicants).
- SAT middle 50%
- 1310–1520sum of section 25th–75th percentiles
- ACT middle 50%
- 30–34
- Average HS GPA
- Not published by the school
Applying
Deadlines, essays and AI policy
- Early deadlines
- Nov 1, 2026 (EA)
- Regular decision
- Jan 5, 2027Source
- Supplemental essays
- 2 required
Two required Illinois-specific essays (~150 words each) on first-choice-major experience and post-graduation goals, in addition to the Common App personal essay; a third essay is required only if a second-choice major is listed.
- AI use in essays
No Official Policy
We reviewed Illinois's applicant FAQ and its general and first-year admission-policy pages, which cover academic integrity — nothing published on applicant AI use.
Full cycle calendar: Application Deadlines.
At a glance
Size and cost
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 36,258
- Tuition (out-of-state)
- $35,124
- Category
- Top Public
- Admissions site
- www.illinois.edu
Mentors who got into UIUC
Our mentors who go to UIUC, or just graduated from it.
What should this school mean for your list?
A published rate is one input. Working out what it means alongside the rest of your list is the part that actually changes an application. Free 25-minute call, no commitment.
Sources
- UIUC test policy (2026-27)
- UIUC deadlines
- UIUC admissions pages
- UIUC admissions pages
- Acceptance rate, test-score percentiles, enrollment and tuition: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, pulled 2026-08-19.
Test policy and deadlines last verified 2026-08-17.
Is this school right for your student?
Talk through UIUC with an advisor.
Tell us about your student and we'll tell you whether UIUC is a reach, a target or a likely, and what would change that.
Book my free consult
