University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs University of Washington-Seattle Campus

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Washington-Seattle Campus are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: University of Washington-Seattle Campus is more selective with a 42.5% acceptance rate compared to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's 43.7%.

Cost: University of Washington-Seattle Campus offers a lower average net price at $13,485, which is $1,716 less than University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($15,201). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earn a median salary of $81,054 ten years after enrollment, which is $2,588 more than University of Washington-Seattle Campus graduates ($78,466).

Graduation: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads with a 84.8% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 94.3% vs 94.9%.

Campus Size: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the larger campus with 34,623 total students, while University of Washington-Seattle Campus has 31,588.

Bottom Line: University of Washington-Seattle Campus wins on affordability while University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads in career earnings. Your choice depends on whether upfront cost or long-term ROI matters more.