University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) vs Texas Tech

Envision yourself as a student, standing at the crossroads of two esteemed universities: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and Texas Tech University (TTU). While both institutions offer exceptional academic opportunities, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your decision. UIUC boasts a lower acceptance rate, indicating its highly selective admissions process, while TTU welcomes a broader range of applicants. Explore the comparison table to delve into further details, such as popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, setting the stage for a transformative educational journey.

	Texas Tech University	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Overview
Location	Lubbock, Texas	Champaign, Illinois
Campus setting	City: Large	City: Small
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Public	Public
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	85.0%	93.0%
Common app member	Yes	No
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	67.9%	59.7%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $75 Graduate: $65	Undergraduate: $50 Graduate: $70
SAT range	1110 - 1280	1320 - 1510
ACT range	23 - 28	29 - 34
Students submitting SAT score	31.0%	43.0%
Students submitting ACT score	16.0%	24.0%
Total number of applicants	33,756	47,593
Total number of admissions given out	22,908	28,395
Admitted students who chose to enroll	6,629	8,297
Yield rate	28.9%	29.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Not required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Not required
High school transcript	Required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $27,782 Out of state: $40,052	In state: $31,636 Out of state: $49,086
Average net price	$17,057	$14,272
Tuition	In state: $8,935 Out of state: $21,205	In state: $12,254 Out of state: $29,704
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $6,694 Meal plan: $3,652	$12,494
Available payment plans	Guaranteed tuition plan Tuition payment plan	Guaranteed tuition plan Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	78.0% Average amount $8,823	82.0% Average amount $11,212
Students receiving federal student loan	40.0% Average amount $5,243	33.0% Average amount $4,889
Students taking out private loans	10.0% Average amount $14,606	8.0% Average amount $7,014

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	33,132 Men 51.0% Women 49.0%	34,779 Men 54.1% Women 45.9%
Graduate students	7,410 Men 44.6% Women 55.4%	21,828 Men 55.8% Women 44.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Moderate
Out-of-state students	9.3%	19.1%
International students	5.1%	20.4%
Campus local/setting	City: Large	City: Small
Dormitory capacity	8,069	16,111
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	Texas New Mexico California Colorado Illinois	Illinois California New Jersey Texas New York

Academics
Popular study areas	Engineering Business Education Biological and Biomedical Sciences Family and Consumer Sciences	Engineering Business Computer and Information Science Agriculture Education
Students to faculty ratio	21:1	21:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Higher Learning Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	62.7%	84.9%
Dropout rate	7.5%	14.2%
Transferred out	27.6%	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $82,752 Year 2: $89,305 Year 3: $105,747 Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $89,229 Year 2: $83,325 Year 3: $103,896 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $83,915 Year 3: $85,017 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $69,234 Year 2: $73,562 Year 3: $83,187 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $73,975 Year 2: $73,530 Year 3: $80,320 Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $75,153 Year 2: $69,338 Year 3: $80,178 Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $62,931 Year 2: $66,821 Year 3: $79,461 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $63,983 Year 2: $60,854 Year 3: $79,100 Construction Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $68,843 Year 2: $68,139 Year 3: $78,681 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $81,271 Year 2: $75,706 Year 3: $78,073	Computer Science (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $144,200 Year 2: $138,932 Year 3: $205,343 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $101,262 Year 2: $101,592 Year 3: $118,452 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $96,177 Year 2: $95,930 Year 3: $115,158 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $88,455 Year 2: $84,100 Year 3: $103,246 Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $87,923 Year 2: $93,033 Year 3: $99,026 Taxation (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $96,057 Year 2: $99,404 Year 3: $96,431 Veterinary Medicine (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $83,448 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $93,057 Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $87,643 Year 2: $87,604 Year 3: $92,498 Law (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $67,633 Year 2: $74,200 Year 3: $92,189 Engineering Physics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $48,606 Year 2: $74,845 Year 3: $90,556

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and Texas Tech University (TTU)?

UIUC is a highly ranked public research university known for its strong engineering, computer science, and business programs. It's located in the Midwest and has a larger student body. Texas Tech, located in West Texas, is also a public research university, but it's known for its strong programs in agriculture, engineering, and business, with a distinctive Southwestern feel and a slightly smaller student population than UIUC. UIUC generally has a higher overall academic ranking and is more selective in its admissions process.
Which university is more selective in its admissions process: UIUC or Texas Tech?

UIUC is generally more selective than Texas Tech. UIUC's acceptance rate is typically lower, and admitted students tend to have higher average GPAs and standardized test scores compared to those admitted to Texas Tech. This reflects UIUC's higher overall ranking and greater demand for its programs.
How do the academic reputations of UIUC and Texas Tech compare?

UIUC has a stronger overall academic reputation, particularly in engineering, computer science, and business. It's consistently ranked among the top public universities in the nation. Texas Tech is a respected institution, especially within Texas and the Southwest, with strong programs in agriculture, engineering, and business, but its overall national ranking is generally lower than UIUC's.
What are the differences in campus culture and student life between UIUC and Texas Tech?

UIUC has a more diverse student body and a broader range of extracurricular activities, reflecting its larger size and location in a more urbanized area. The campus culture is academically focused, with a strong emphasis on research and innovation. Texas Tech has a more traditional, spirited campus culture with a strong sense of community and school pride. It's known for its active Greek life and strong athletic programs, particularly football. The atmosphere at Texas Tech is often described as having a distinct Southwestern charm.
How do the locations of UIUC and Texas Tech affect the student experience?

UIUC is located in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, a twin-city environment that offers a mix of college-town atmosphere and access to larger cities like Chicago. The location provides opportunities for internships and cultural experiences. Texas Tech is located in Lubbock, Texas, a larger city in West Texas that offers a more self-contained college experience. The location provides access to the unique culture and landscapes of the Southwest.
Which university is more affordable for in-state students: UIUC or Texas Tech?

Texas Tech is generally more affordable for in-state students due to lower tuition and fees compared to UIUC. However, the overall cost of attendance, including living expenses, can vary depending on individual spending habits and lifestyle choices.
How do the career opportunities and alumni networks compare between UIUC and Texas Tech?

UIUC's strong academic reputation and location provide access to a wider range of career opportunities, particularly in the Midwest and on the East Coast. Its alumni network is extensive and influential across various industries. Texas Tech's career opportunities are strong within Texas and the Southwest, particularly in industries like energy, agriculture, and engineering. Its alumni network is also strong, especially within the region.
What are the strengths of UIUC's engineering program compared to Texas Tech's?

UIUC's engineering program is consistently ranked among the top in the nation and is known for its cutting-edge research, state-of-the-art facilities, and a wide range of specialized programs. While Texas Tech also has a strong engineering program, UIUC's program generally has a higher national ranking and offers more specialized research opportunities.
What are the strengths of Texas Tech's agriculture program compared to UIUC's?

Texas Tech has a particularly strong agriculture program, reflecting the importance of agriculture in the Texas economy. It offers specialized programs and research opportunities related to agriculture in arid and semi-arid environments. While UIUC also has an agriculture program, Texas Tech's program is more focused on the specific agricultural needs and challenges of the Southwest.
Do UIUC and Texas Tech offer similar programs of study?

Both UIUC and Texas Tech offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including business, engineering, arts and sciences, and education. However, UIUC has a broader selection of specialized programs, particularly at the graduate level, reflecting its larger size and research focus. Texas Tech has unique programs related to agriculture and natural resources specific to the Southwest.

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