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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs University of Wisconsin-Madison

Odds, test scores, cost, aid and graduation rates, side by side from each school's own Common Data Set. Add more schools

University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign37%admitted · 2025-26University of Wisconsin-MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison41%admitted · 2025-26

Getting in

Acceptance rate36.6%40.8%
Early decision rateNo EDNo ED
SAT middle 50%1390–15201400–1490
ACT middle 50%31–3429–33
Applicant reports on our site761366

Cost and aid

Tuition$12,992 in-state$10,717 in-state
Tuition, out-of-state$33,344$44,232
Food and housing$15,184$14,994
Sticker price per year$53,582$60,925
Average need-based grant$25,878$34,828
Average % of need met82%92%

Outcomes

First-year retention95.3%96.3%
6-year graduation rate86.3%89.7%
Undergraduates38,57239,193

Best value in each row is highlighted. Sticker price uses out-of-state tuition for public universities and leaves out books, travel and aid. "—" means the school left the item blank in its Common Data Set.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or University of Wisconsin-Madison?

Is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign harder to get into than University of Wisconsin-Madison?

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is more selective. It admitted 36.6% of first-year applicants, compared with 40.8% at University of Wisconsin-Madison, per each school's latest Common Data Set.

What SAT scores do University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Wisconsin-Madison students have?

The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1390–1520 at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and 1400–1490 at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Which is cheaper, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or University of Wisconsin-Madison?

Before aid, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign costs about $53,582 a year in tuition, fees, food and housing, against $60,925 at University of Wisconsin-Madison (out-of-state tuition for public universities). The average need-based grant is $25,878 at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $34,828 at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or University of Wisconsin-Madison have a higher graduation rate?

86.3% of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students graduate within six years, compared with 89.7% at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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