Admissions
Getting in, 2024-25
UIUC admits about 1 in 3 applicants (38%). That puts it in the "Very selective in-state, Highly selective out of state" tier, more selective than 90% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$50 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 36%, women at 50%.
Where applicants live
Illinois applicants were admitted at 49%, applicants from other states at 29%, and international applicants at 30%.
All applicants in the same class: 37%
Of those admitted, 45% from Illinois enrolled, against 13% from other states and 22% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
29% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 6,826 offered a place, 4,317 accepted, 1 admitted (under 0.1% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early action (not binding): apply by Nov 1; decisions by Jan 30
No early decision plan.
Where you stand
How UIUC reads a record
and GPA are both very important; tests are considered. Scores are optional. 43% of first-years sent an SAT and 14% an ACT. Most high schools no longer rank; this college doesn't lean on it. Applicants are . Recommends 4 years of science and social studies (2 of each required). See the years by subject
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Not considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Important | ||||
| Recommendations | Not considered | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Not considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Very important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Very important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Very important | ||||
| First generation | Very important | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Not considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
43% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 38% of first-year applicants
6,639 applied · 2,882 admitted · 1,682 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall, spring, and summer.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date March 1, apply by April 1
- Spring entry: apply by October 15
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Not required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 5 for fall 2026.
- Priority date: November 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent by a set date.
- Admitted students must reply by a set date.
- The housing deposit is non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 year OR 2 years for U.S. Military.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Neither requires nor recommends a set college-preparatory program.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 4 |
| Science (lab: 2 / 4) | 2 | 4 |
| Foreign language | 2 | 4 |
| Social studies | 2 | 4 |
| History | 0 | – |
| Academic electives | 2 | 4 |
| Total | 15 | 24 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school class rank
62% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 89% in the top quarter, of the 22% whose high school reported a rank.
This college doesn't publish first-years' .
Source:University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1465 on the SAT, 295 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
74% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
85% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
70% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
77% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
86% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
73% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 43% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 14% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
3,921 studentssubmitted ACT
1,295 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Common Data Set, 2024-25;University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Fall 2026), Fall 2026;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, most recent release;University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)