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

Illinois admits a smaller share by the headline number, about 36.6% against 45.2% at UW-Madison. Residency math muddies that, though: only about 16% of Illinois undergraduates come from out of state, while Wisconsin pulls roughly 51% of its class from outside the state, so a non-resident's real odds at Madison run tighter than the overall rate suggests. Illinois also admits directly into a major, which makes programs like engineering and computer science far more competitive than the campus-wide figure.

For engineering depth, Illinois carries the heavier concentration. Engineering ranks as its single largest field at about 19% of degrees, with computer and information sciences adding another 9%, and students apply straight into those programs by major. Wisconsin grants about 10% of degrees in engineering and 9% in computer science, inside a university led by business and the life sciences. For an undergraduate experience centered on engineering or CS, Illinois fits better.

Wisconsin wins this one clearly. Business and marketing tops its degree mix at about 18% of bachelor's degrees, well ahead of the social sciences. Business holds up at Illinois too, roughly 12% of degrees, but the campus leans toward engineering and computing, which sit ahead of business in the mix. For a business-first track at a Big Ten flagship, Wisconsin offers the more direct path.

On the out-of-state sticker, Illinois posts the lower price, about $38,398 in tuition and fees against $44,191 at UW-Madison, a gap near $6,000 a year before aid. Wisconsin meets more demonstrated need on average, about 89% to Illinois's 82%, and its average aid package runs larger, roughly $31,125 versus $26,429. A bigger share of Illinois first-years receive need-based grant aid (about 38% versus 29% at Wisconsin), and in-state tuition also runs lower at Madison, near $12,166 against $18,046 at UIUC, so the cheaper option hinges on residency and need.

Setting splits these two most clearly. Wisconsin occupies an isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona in Madison, the state capital, which gives it a lakeside, outdoorsy feel, while Illinois spreads across the twin college towns of Urbana and Champaign in central Illinois. They land close in scale, about 38,572 undergraduates at Illinois and 39,083 at Wisconsin, though Greek life looms larger at UIUC, where about 15% of men join fraternities and 21% of women join sororities, against roughly 9% and 8% at Madison.

On completion, Wisconsin finishes slightly ahead. It graduates 90% within six years and retains 96% of first-years into their second year, against 86% and 95% at Illinois, both strong with Wisconsin a few points higher on completion. Wisconsin also reports an average admitted high school GPA near 3.90, while Illinois publishes class rank instead of an average GPA, noting that about 62% of ranked first-years finished in the top tenth of their high school class.