University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Purdue University-Main Campus

Compare historical evidence, then verify your personal fit and cost.

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By Admit Coach / GPTKIDS LLC · Methodology
MeasureUniversity of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignPurdue University-Main Campus
CampusILIN
Institution typePublicPublic
Historical average net price$14,355$14,600
Four-year constant-cost scenario$57,420$58,400
In-state published cost of attendance$33,198$24,882
Out-of-state published cost of attendance$54,330$43,684
Admission policy / historical acceptance rate43.7%50.3%
Six-year graduation rate85.0%83.1%
Verify your costOfficial cost calculator / college cost pageOfficial cost calculator / college cost page

Reporting years are not verified for every imported field. Historical averages are not current prices or aid offers; public net-price averages may cover in-state students. The four-year scenario assumes unchanged cost and aid, excluding inflation and loan interest.

Illinois or Purdue: major choice and a complete application matter

Application scope: First-year applicants to Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Purdue's Main Campus. The cited pages do not label all guidance with an entry year; verify your term and campus.

Illinois second-choice major review

Illinois reviews applicants for a second-choice major if they are not admitted to their first choice. Some programs cannot be selected as a second choice, and Illinois residents receive preference in second-choice admission when space is limited. List only alternatives you would actually study. Official source: Illinois second-choice major review.

Purdue completed-file deadlines

Purdue says all required materials must arrive by the relevant deadline. Its application portal identifies outstanding items. Use the first-year and financial-aid sections of its deadline page to check your chosen program, campus, and scholarship timing before submitting. Official source: Purdue completed-file deadlines.

Put the differences into your decision

Compare the specific major and campus offered in each letter, including any subsequent engineering-major placement process. For cost and aid, enter your own residency at each institution: Illinois and Indiana are different tuition jurisdictions. Include travel, program fees, and renewable grants in the same annual budget.

Sources checked . Policies can change; verify the linked pages for your entry year. This check date covers the policy notes, not the reporting years of the historical metrics above.

Campus admission rates are historical context, not personal admission probabilities.

Make this comparison useful

Can I afford either college?

Open both official calculators above using the same household information. Compare grants, annual out-of-pocket cost, borrowing and renewal conditions. Historical net price is context, not your offer.

Work through the affordability checklist →
What do graduation outcomes tell me?

The six-year rate describes an institution-level historical cohort. It does not predict your outcome or necessarily describe transfer, part-time or major-specific experiences. Ask each college about completion in your major, advising, required course availability and support.

Understand the cohort and data limitations →

Check the gaps in your college list →

Decide what to verify next

  1. Check admission to your intended major and current testing policy.
  2. Run each official cost calculator with the same household assumptions.
  3. Compare renewable grants, remaining budget gaps and deadlines.

Saved categories start as target placeholders; they do not assess personal admission chances. Explore academic fit or check affordability.

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard. Institution-level outcomes describe past cohorts and do not predict individual results.

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