Is UIUC a Good School?

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a public research university in eastern Illinois.

It's the flagship university of the University of Illinois System.

UIUC offers online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs. But is UIUC a good school?

It's an excellent school, and we break down why below.

Is UIUC Accredited?

At an institutional level, UIUC is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), one of six regional accrediting institutions in the country.

In the United States, colleges and universities can be either regionally or nationally accredited.

Regional accreditation is the most common and is generally preferred over national accreditation.

Each agency is responsible for a specific area of the country. The HLC covers the central states, ranging from Colorado to West Virginia.

Individual programs can also hold programmatic accreditation, meaning they have been accredited by an agency that accredits specifically those types of programs.

Agencies that accredit programs at UIUC include:

• American Bar Association
• American Psychological Association
• Council on Education for Public Health
• Council on Social Work Education
• Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET
• Liaison Committee on Medical Education

The university is also a member of many academic agencies and commissions.

What Is UIUC Known For?

UIUC is one of the largest public universities in the country and is known for its research programs and notable alumni and faculty.

The university is a member of the Association of American Universities, an organization dedicated to maintaining a strong system of academic research and education.

UIUC's research centers include:

• Center for Plasma-Material Interactions
• National Center for Supercomputing Applications
• Prairie Research Institute
• Technology Entrepreneur Center

As a result, UIUC has been home to a variety of discoveries and innovations, including the BCS theory of superconductivity, sweet corn, touchscreens, and plasma displays.

Alumni and faculty have gone on to found numerous companies and organizations, including the National Football League (NFL), PayPal, Yelp, and YouTube.

Alumni also include numerous politicians, CEOs, and activists. 27 alumni and faculty have won a Pulitzer Prize, and 30 have won Nobel Prizes.

Is UIUC a Good Choice?

Although student needs may vary, for many, UIUC is a good choice because of its variety of esteemed on-campus and online programs.

The university consistently ranks high on lists of colleges in the United States.

For example:

• 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities ranked it #29 in the country
• Forbes ranked it #30 on its list of America's Top Colleges and #9 in public colleges
• U.S. News & World Report lists it at #35 on its Best National University Rankings and #12 in public schools
• Wall Street Journal ranks it #35 on its 2024 list of Best Colleges in the U.S.

Students generally give the university high reviews, with an overwhelming majority rating it four or five stars.

Many mention the esteemed professors, diverse student body, and strong programs.

Acceptance Rates at UIUC

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, UIUC accepted 45% of undergraduate student applicants in the fall of 2022.

To apply as a first-year undergraduate student, you'll need to submit an application, including your high school transcripts and responses to writing prompts, and pay a $50 application fee.

ACT and SAT scores are not required for the application.

Individual programs may have additional requirements; for example, many fine arts programs require an audition or portfolio review.

To apply as a graduate student, you'll need to have completed your bachelor's degree or be in the final year of your bachelor's program.

A GPA of 3.0 is required, though some specific programs require a higher GPA.

As with undergraduate programs, individual graduate programs may have additional requirements that you need to meet or additional materials you need to submit.

Online Programs Offered at UIUC

UIUC offers online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, as well as certificates, endorsements, individual courses, and continuing education programs.

Only three bachelor's degrees are available online through UIUC. These are:

• Bachelor of Science in early childhood education (degree completion program)
• Bachelor of Science in earth, society, and environmental studies with two concentrations: society and environment or society in the Earth system
• Bachelor of Social Work (degree completion program)

Multiple master's degrees are available in fields such as:

• Agriculture and Animal Science
• Biological Science
• Business
• Computer Science
• Education
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Journalism
• Library and Information Science
• Nutrition and Food Science
• Social Work

At the doctoral level, UIUC offers five Doctor of Education degrees:

• Diversity and Equality in Education
• Global Studies in Education
• Human Resources Development
• International Education Administration and Leadership
• Learning Design and Leadership

Undergraduate certificates, graduate certificates, individual courses, and continuing education programs are available in a wide range of fields of study.

What Are Online Classes Like at UIUC?

World-renowned faculty and award-winning content developers at UIUC work collaboratively to develop courses designed for student success.

While each class is different, the majority of online classes at UIUC are asynchronous, meaning you don't have to log in at a set time, and even online exams have flexible start times.

Depending on the course, there may be weekly readings, lectures, lessons, discussion forums, quizzes, and/or assignments.

Courses may also have final papers, projects, and exams.

Most online classes at UIUC are eight weeks long, but some run for the full 16 weeks of the semester.

Start Your Degree Today

UIUC is a good school thanks to its excellent programs and faculty. With the guide above, you can determine if a degree from UIUC is right for you.