A top-ranked public research university with 60,000+ students and a legacy of innovation since 1867.
Illinois offers more than 150 undergraduate and 100+ graduate programs across 16 colleges and schools, including engineering, computer science, business, liberal arts, agriculture, law, medicine, and veterinary medicine. The university is particularly renowned for its computer science program, consistently ranked fifth nationally, with highly selective admission (7.4% acceptance rate in 2025). The Carle Illinois College of Medicine, established in 2015 and launched in 2018, is the world's first engineering-based medical school. Illinois also provides extensive online learning through partnerships with Coursera and its own Illinois Online platform.
The 6,370-acre campus spans Urbana and Champaign, featuring distinctive architecture and four main quads. Notable facilities include the University Library (fourth-largest in the US with 15+ million volumes), Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Krannert Art Museum, and Spurlock Museum. The campus is home to 27 LEED-certified buildings and has earned five consecutive gold certifications in sustainability. Students benefit from 300+ study abroad programs, extensive cultural centers, and active Greek life and student organizations.
For fall 2025, the overall undergraduate admit rate is 36.6%, though rates vary significantly by college. Computer science programs are highly competitive at 7.4% acceptance. Middle 50% test scores for 2025 entrants: SAT 1420–1540, ACT 31–35 (among those who submitted). The university enrolls approximately 7,900–8,300 first-time freshmen annually. Graduate admissions are handled through the Graduate College with programs across all academic units.
Illinois is classified as an R1 Doctoral University with very high research activity. In fiscal year 2019, research expenditures totaled $652 million. The university hosts the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and operates a research park with over 90 start-up companies and multinational corporations. Faculty and alumni include 25 Nobel laureates, 31 Pulitzer Prize winners, 2 Fields medalists, and 2 Turing Award winners.
87% of students graduate within 8 years, well above the national median of 58%. Recent graduates report an average salary of $79,516, with 93% securing employment within six months of graduation. The university serves 545,000+ living alumni and maintains strong ties to the Champaign-Urbana community, ranked among the top 10 college towns in the nation.