University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign at a Glance
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public land-grant research university in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area, Illinois, United States. Established in 1867, it is the founding campus and flagship institution of the University of Illinois System. With over 59,000 students, the University of Illinois is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the United States.
1867
159 years old
$3.8B
$3.8 billion (2025)
60,848
38,572 undergrad · 20,877 grad
2,548
6,370 acres
Identity
How to Apply to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Official admissions pageJanuary 5
November 1 (Early Action)
$75
Fee waiver available
Testing policy
Fee waiver
Is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Worth It?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $14,355/year net price and $81,054 median earnings, graduates earn 5.6× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 85% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Bottom line: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 14 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 100 | $14,355 | $81,054 |
| #2 | California State University-Long Beach | 100 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| #3 | University of California-Davis | 100 | $14,741 | $80,838 |
| #4 | University of Georgia | 100 | $13,936 | $68,726 |
| #5 | University of Maryland-College Park | 100 | $15,678 | $82,860 |
| #6 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | 100 | $14,091 | $78,466 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The highest-earning program at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is Computer Science at $92,200/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $17,300/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earns $92,200, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $17,300. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $14,355/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $92,200 | $92,200 | $19,500 |
| Computer Engineering | $78,000 | $78,000 | $19,750 |
| Engineering Physics | $73,900 | $73,900 | $21,817 |
| Industrial Engineering | $72,600 | $72,600 | $27,000 |
| Engineering, General | $70,200 | $70,200 | $26,046 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $70,000 | $70,000 | $20,344 |
| Chemical Engineering | $69,300 | $69,300 | $21,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $68,700 | $68,700 | $19,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $67,200 | $67,200 | $19,499 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $67,000 | $67,000 | $25,000 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $66,200 | $66,200 | $21,500 |
| Nuclear Engineering | $64,500 | $64,500 | $24,250 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $63,700 | $63,700 | $16,572 |
| Civil Engineering | $62,900 | $62,900 | $19,500 |
| Materials Engineering | $62,200 | $62,200 | $19,750 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $61,400 | $61,400 | $18,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $60,700 | $60,700 | $22,500 |
| Statistics | $57,200 | $57,200 | $16,875 |
| Marketing | $55,900 | $55,900 | $19,500 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $53,900 | $53,900 | $19,000 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $50,100 | $50,100 | $19,000 |
| Economics | $49,400 | $49,400 | $21,000 |
| Mathematics | $44,900 | $44,900 | $17,750 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $42,100 | $42,100 | $21,499 |
| Food Science and Technology | $41,000 | $41,000 | $20,500 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $40,400 | $40,400 | $20,548 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $40,200 | $40,200 | $26,994 |
| Chemistry | $39,700 | $39,700 | $21,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $39,300 | $39,300 | $20,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $38,100 | $38,100 | $19,500 |
| Physics | $37,900 | $37,900 | $20,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $36,200 | $36,200 | $20,917 |
| Architecture | $36,100 | $36,100 | $21,500 |
| Public Health | $35,500 | $35,500 | $19,500 |
| Plant Sciences | $35,300 | $35,300 | $15,752 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $35,100 | $35,100 | $20,516 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $34,000 | $34,000 | $21,392 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $33,300 | $33,300 | $21,127 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $33,200 | $33,200 | $21,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $32,700 | $32,700 | $21,000 |
| Area Studies | $32,400 | $32,400 | $18,103 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $32,000 | $32,000 | $19,500 |
| Journalism | $31,900 | $31,900 | $20,150 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $31,600 | $31,600 | $20,750 |
| Psychology, General | $30,200 | $30,200 | $19,500 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $28,500 | $28,500 | $20,000 |
| Sociology | $28,500 | $28,500 | $19,782 |
| History | $28,500 | $28,500 | $20,500 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $28,200 | $28,200 | $19,000 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $28,000 | $28,000 | $20,500 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | $26,400 | $26,400 | $18,753 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $26,100 | $26,100 | $19,422 |
| Animal Sciences | $25,200 | $25,200 | $19,983 |
| Systems Science and Theory | $23,300 | $23,300 | $20,500 |
| Anthropology | $22,700 | $22,700 | $21,800 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $21,900 | $21,900 | $19,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $18,200 | $18,200 | $26,985 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $17,300 | $17,300 | N/A |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Champaign, IL
- Student Body
- 36,258 students
- Admission Rate
- 42%
- Graduation Rate
- 85%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $14,355
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $81,054
- Median Student Debt
- $19,500