Key differences on Cost & aid
- 1
UIUC costs about $9.7K less per year on average than UW ($28,467 vs. $38,160, all students)
Average cost, all students - 2
UIUC's grants cover 26% of its full price on average, vs. 15% at UW
Aid generosity
Cost & aid
Cost & aid
Average cost, aid generosity, net price by family income, sticker prices, and grants.
What students pay
Grants
Sticker prices
On one scale, so the bars read against each other.
Up to $110K: the average net price per year for students receiving federal aid, 2023–24; families who didn't file the FAFSA aren't included. Above it the published data end. For your own number, use the college's net price calculator .
Family income per year $150K
- UIUCLittle need-based aid above $110K
Merit possible; averaging $6K
- Ohio StateLittle need-based aid above $110K
- UWLittle need-based aid above $110K
Merit possible; averaging $4K
Published (federal figure, up to $110K) EstimateBars share one scale: the largest full price.
Where need-based aid ends, merit, and published promises
| Metric | UIUC | Ohio State | UW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Need-based aid up to | Little need-based aid above $110K | Little need-based aid above $110K | Little need-based aid above $110K |
| Merit for students without need | 16% got merit aid, averaging $6K | – | 8.8% got merit aid, averaging $4K |
| Published promise | – | – | – |
A college's own promise is stated for a typical family and changes yearly; where a promise and our estimate disagree, the promise wins. Merit has no income limit, so it can lower the price above the point where need-based aid ends.
Tuition guarantee & Promise program
| Metric | UIUC | Ohio State | UW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition guarantee | Yes | Yes | No |
| Promise program | Yes | No | Yes |
From the colleges' Common Data Sets
| Metric | UIUC | Ohio State | UW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aid forms | FAFSA | – | FAFSA |
| Aid priority date or deadline | March 15 (priority) | – | January 15 (priority) |
| Need met, first-years | 82% | – | 74% |
| Average aid package, first-years | $26,429 | – | $22,538 |
| College grant dollars given as merit | 13% | – | 17% |
| Aid for international students | 45 students, average $5.2K | – | Not offered |
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Common Data Set 2025–26, 2024–25;College Scorecard, most recent release;University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Common Data Set, 2024-25;University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Common Data Set, most recent release;University of Washington-Seattle Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;University of Washington-Seattle Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, 2024–25;University of Washington-Seattle Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why