What it takes to get into University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The numbers admitted students had, and the parts of an application University of Illinois Urbana-Champaignreports it weighs. Both come from the college’s own reporting.
Acceptance rate
42.4%
SAT middle 50%
1310–1520
median 1415
ACT middle 50%
30–34
median 32
Testing
optional
44% submitted an SAT
Top 10% of class
56%
of admitted students
Reported by the college
What University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign weighs
Requirements tell you what to submit. This tells you what happens to it once you do, which is the more useful of the two and the part almost nobody looks up.
Very important
The parts of an application this school weighs most heavily.
- Grades
- Course rigor
Important
Weighed, though below the factors above.
- Essay
- Extracurriculars
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- First-generation status
Considered
Looked at, but not decisive on its own.
- Test scores
- State residency
- Where you live
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not considered
Reported as playing no part in the decision.
- Class rank
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Demonstrated interest
- Legacy
- Religious affiliation
From University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Common Data Set, 2025, section C7, where colleges report how heavily they weigh each part of an application.
Where you stand
Run your own numbers
These are the numbers admitted students had. The next question is where yours land inside them, and what to do about the gap.
Common questions
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign requirements, answered
What matters most for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign admissions?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign reports that it treats grades, course rigor as very important. Those are where the work pays off, and the college is the source, not a guess.
What does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign not consider?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign reports that class rank, recommendations, interview, demonstrated interest, legacy play no part in its decision. This is worth knowing because effort spent on any of them does not count here, whatever it does elsewhere.
Does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign require the SAT or ACT?
No, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is test-optional. About 44% of the enrolled class submitted an SAT, so applying without one is common here.
What Spike does with this
Build toward what University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign actually reads.
Spike takes the factors a college weighs and works them into your courses, testing, essays, and activities over time.
One email when Spike opens. No card, no account. About the waitlist.