🏅 QS World Rank #74
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
Birthplace of the modern web browser — QS World Rankings 2027 #74
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a large public research university in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign, founded in 1867. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026) it is 74th in the world. This guide covers programmes, admission, 2025-26 costs, advice for applicants from Pakistan and the questions applicants ask most. Every figure is labeled with its year or ranking edition.
UIUC Overview
UIUC was founded in 1867 as a land-grant university and is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois System. It is known for engineering and computing, and for agriculture and accountancy.
Its National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) released Mosaic in 1993, an early graphical web browser that helped popularise the web. Mosaic was not the very first browser, which was Tim Berners-Lee’s WorldWideWeb at CERN.
UIUC Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
UIUC is 74th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026.
This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News and ARWU use different methods and can order universities differently.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
UIUC is known for:
- Computer science in the Grainger College of Engineering
- Engineering, including aerospace and agricultural and biological engineering
- Business and accountancy — Gies College of Business
- Agriculture and environment — College of ACES
- Liberal arts and sciences
- Supercomputing through NCSA
See the official website for the full list.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
Check UIUC’s admissions site for the current application steps. This page does not repeat the old claim about which application platforms are accepted because we could not confirm it.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Application | Use the application platform listed on the UIUC admissions site for your entry term |
| Selective majors | Computer Science and some Grainger engineering programmes are far more selective than the university overall |
| English | International applicants normally need to show English proficiency. Check the accepted tests and scores. |
| Academics | Strong results in mathematics and science for engineering and computing |
| Documents | Transcripts, identification, essays and any required test scores |
Official source: UIUC — Undergraduate admissions.
UIUC Acceptance Rate
UIUC publishes admit rates for its 2025 first-year cycle:
- Overall: 36.6%
- Grainger College of Engineering: 21.2%
- Computer Science: 7.4%
- Computer Science + X programmes: 17.4%
The old “about 45%” figure on this page is replaced. UIUC does not split these rates by domestic and international applicants.
Source: UIUC — Admit rates (2025 cycle). Fees, dates and rules change each year.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your programme and read its entry and language requirements
- Check the application deadline for your intake
- Book an English (or other required) language test
- Prepare transcripts, identification and any required documents
- Apply and accept your offer
- Meet the visa or residence-permit conditions for your destination
- Plan funding for tuition and living costs
- Verify every date, fee and requirement on UIUC’s official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
UIUC’s admissions site lists these 2025-26 estimates:
- International students: tuition and fees US$39,392 to US$49,742, with an estimated total cost of US$58,616 to US$68,966
- Non-resident U.S. students: tuition and fees US$38,398 to US$46,498, with an estimated total cost of US$57,622 to US$65,722
Rates vary by major. UIUC raised tuition, housing and fees again for 2026-27, so check the current rates. The old “US$35,000 to US$45,000” range is replaced by these figures.
Source: UIUC — Cost and tuition. Fees, dates and rules change each year.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- Undergraduate aid: aid for international undergraduates is limited. Check the UIUC admissions and financial aid pages for any current awards. The “Illinois International Merit Award” named on the old page could not be confirmed, so it has been removed.
- Graduate funding: departments often fund graduate students through assistantships and fellowships. Check your department.
- Other aid: compare options in our fully funded scholarships for 2027 guide
- No guarantee: awards are competitive
UIUC for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants follow the standard international process:
- Competitive majors: Computer Science is the hardest to enter, so consider other majors too
- English: prepare IELTS, TOEFL or another accepted test. Our IELTS preparation guides can help.
- Money: plan for the full cost above and look for outside funding
- Visa: an F-1 student visa is required and its rules change
- Deadlines: check the dates for your intake early
Campus & Student Life
- The campus spans the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign in central Illinois
- Large university library system and extensive engineering research facilities
- A college-town setting that is quieter than a big city
- Large student body with a wide range of clubs and sports
Research & Career Opportunities
- UIUC is research-intensive, with notable work in computing, engineering and agriculture
- Graduates work in technology, engineering, agriculture and accounting firms
- Grainger College of Engineering has strong industry links
- UIUC does not guarantee employment, salary or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Marc Andreessen, co-creator of the Mosaic browser and Netscape co-founder, earned a bachelor’s degree at UIUC
- Max Levchin, PayPal co-founder, graduated from UIUC in computer science
- Jawed Karim, YouTube co-founder, graduated from UIUC in computer science
Contact & Location
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urbana and Champaign, Illinois, United States
Official website: illinois.edu
Admissions: admissions.illinois.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is ranked 74th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026.
Yes. Mosaic was developed at UIUC’s National Center for Supercomputing Applications and released in 1993. It was an early, widely used graphical browser, but not the first browser: that was WorldWideWeb at CERN.
Yes. UIUC reported a 7.4% admit rate for Computer Science in its 2025 first-year cycle, compared with 36.6% overall.
UIUC is best known for computer science, engineering, agriculture and accountancy.
UIUC lists 2025-26 tuition and fees of US$39,392 to US$49,742 for international students, with an estimated total cost of US$58,616 to US$68,966.
UIUC reported 21.2% for the Grainger College of Engineering in its 2025 first-year cycle.
Yes. Pakistani applicants apply as international students with the documents and English evidence UIUC requires.
Aid for international undergraduates is limited. Check UIUC’s current financial aid pages, and look at external funding as well.
Marc Andreessen co-founded Netscape after working on Mosaic at UIUC’s NCSA.
Check UIUC’s official pages at admissions.illinois.edu. Fees, deadlines and rules can change.
Compare UIUC With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, UIUC’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with the university before applying.