How to Get Into the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign: Admissions Stats + Tips
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, or simply UIUC, is home to the second-largest university library system in the U.S., trailing only Harvard. The enormous amount of resources available on UIUC’s campus has paid off—the school is home to 26 Nobel Prize winners and 29 Pulitzer Prize winners. It’s not all academics at UIUC, though—the school has a reputation for its hard work ethic and as one of the top party schools in the nation. With all that UIUC has to offer, it’s no surprise tens of thousands of students apply each year. So, what does it take to be one of the lucky ones who gain admission? Keep reading to find out! Gaining admission to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is no piece of cake. In the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, UIUC received 73,742 applications and admitted just 31,247 students—an overall acceptance rate of 42%. Although UIUC’s acceptance rate is low, your personal chances of acceptance depend on the strength of your profile. CollegeVine’s free admissions calculator can help you better understand your odds at UIUC. Our data-driven chancing engine uses factors like your grades, test scores, and extracurriculars to estimate your odds of admission and provide tips to improve your profile. The middle 50% GPA of the last three years of students admitted to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is 3.70-4.0. During the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, the middle 50% SAT and ACT scores of students enrolling at UIUC were 1390-1520 and 30-34, respectively. UIUC is test-optional, meaning students are not required to submit standardized test scores. In the 2024–2025 admissions cycle, 41% of enrolling students submitted an SAT score, while 14% submitted an ACT score. The average student enrolling at UIUC in the 2024-2025 admissions cycle graduated near the top of their high school class; over 56% were in the top tenth of their class and roughly 85% graduated in the top quarter. The University of Illinois Urbana-Chicago is a state-funded college and attracts a large number of students from Illinois. In-state students make up approximately 70% of UIUC undergraduates from Illinois. In the 2024–2025 admissions cycle, 6,429 students enrolled from Illinois, 1,346 came from out of state, and 1,233 came from countries outside the U.S. In-state applicants are admitted at a considerably higher rate than out-of-state students. During the 2024–2025 admissions cycle: Don’t think that the large number of in-state students leads to a homogeneous campus, however. UIUC students hail from 47 states and 125 countries. More than 20,000 students of color are on campus, more than at any other top-ranked university in the Midwest. According to their 2024-2025 Common Data Set, UIUC considers the following factors “very important”: These factors are “important”: These are “considered”: And these are “not considered”:
[amp-cta id="9459"] GPA and class rigor are the only two factors that the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign considers “very important” to admissions decisions. The middle 50% GPA range of the last three years of students admitted to the university was 3.70-4.0. For serious consideration as an applicant, you’ll need all, or nearly all, As in the most challenging courses available to you. This means you should be taking honors, AP, or IB courses whenever possible to boost your GPA and impress admissions officers. Selective schools like UIUC receive a massive number of applications and use a tool known as the Academic Index to sort through them. The Academic Index consolidates your entire academic performance into a single number, which is used to ensure you meet a school’s academic standards. If you fail to meet a college’s Academic Index threshold, you risk not having your application read. If your GPA is below the average of a student accepted to UIUC and you’re early in your high school career, there’s still time to raise your GPA. If you’re a junior or senior, you will find it hard to increase your GPA, which makes earning higher test scores the easiest way to improve your Academic Index. Standardized test scores are “considered” by admissions officials at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The middle 50% of students admitted to UIUC for the 2024–2025 admissions cycle scored between 1390 and 1520 on the SAT and 30 and 34 on the ACT. UIUC doesn’t super score; however, if you take either the SAT or ACT more than once, it will evaluate your highest subscores. A smart strategy to improve your SAT/ACT score is to sit for one of the exams two or three times. To raise your SAT/ACT score, check out these free CollegeVine resources: UIUC practices test-optional admissions—applicants aren’t required to submit standardized test scores. That said, CollegeVine recommends taking the SAT or ACT if you can do so safely and submitting scores that meet or exceed the 25th percentile of accepted students. Students who submit test scores are accepted at a higher rate than those who do not. Of students enrolling at UIUC during the 2024–2025 admissions cycle, 41% submitted SAT scores and 14% submitted ACT scores. Not sure if you should submit a score? You can get recommendations on whether or not you should apply test-optional using our free chancing engine. Extracurricular activities, as well as the talent and character they often demonstrate, are all considered “important” to admissions by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. According to UIUC, “you should be able to demonstrate some impact or level of accomplishment in your school, your community, your state, or nationally.” The best way to spotlight your contributions outside of the classroom is with a highly developed interest known as a “spike” and one of two supporting extracurricular activities—the more exceptional the extracurricular, the more weight it carries on admissions. The four tiers of extracurriculars are a good guideline for how colleges value your activities outside of the classroom: At top schools like the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, almost every applicant has an impressive academic profile. This makes it essential for you to find avenues to differentiate yourself from other candidates. Essays are one of those places, and UIUC considers them “important” to admissions. Applicants to the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign must complete the Common Application essay and respond to two or three short-response prompts, depending on whether they are applying to a specific major or as undeclared. In general, an attention-grabbing essay is written in your unique voice and highlights how you’ll fit on campus and how the college will benefit from your attendance. For UIUC-specific essay advice, check out our article, “How to Write the UIUC Essays 2025-2026.” The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has an early action program. Early action is non-binding and students are under no obligation to attend UIUC if admitted. Applicants who apply early action generally have a higher acceptance rate than a university’s overall and regular decision rates. Early action candidates at UIUC also have the best chance of getting accepted into the university’s most selective programs and can gain special attention for admission to honors programs and consideration for merit awards. Application Timeline Deadline Notification Date Early Action November 1 January 30 Regular Decision January 6 March 6 The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts the Common Application. Other requirements include: Other optional materials include: Interested in learning more about UIUC? Check out these other informative articles: Want to know your chances at UIUC? Calculate your chances for free right now.
What’s Covered:
How Hard Is It to Get Into the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Average Academic Profile of Accepted University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Students
GPA
SAT/ACT
Class Rank
What is the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College Looking for?
How the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College Evaluates Applications
How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
1. Achieve between a 3.70-4.0 GPA while taking the most challenging classes available.
2. Aim for a 1520 SAT and 34 ACT.
3. Cultivate one or two Tier 1-2 extracurriculars (find your “spike”).
4. Write engaging essays.
5. Apply Early Action.
How to Apply to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Deadlines
Application Requirements
Learn more about the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
