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College Comparison

UC Berkeley vs UIUC: Which is Better?

Side-by-side comparison of acceptance rates, SAT scores, tuition, earnings, and more, updated with the latest College Scorecard data.

School

UC Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

School

UIUC

Champaign, IL

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricUC BerkeleyUIUC
Acceptance Rate11.7%wins43.7%
SAT Range (25th–75th)N/A1270–1510wins
ACT Range (25th–75th)N/A29–34
Tuition (Out-of-State)$45,627$34,501wins
Avg Net Price$14,979wins$15,201
Median Earnings (10 yr)$92,446wins$81,054
Graduation Rate92.9%wins84.9%
Retention Rate96.8%wins94.3%
Student–Faculty Ratio18:1wins20:1
Total Enrollment33,07334,623wins

Verdict

Based on the data above, UC Berkeley edges out UIUC on 6 of 9 measurable categories, including key factors like acceptance rate, earnings, and graduation rate. That said, the right choice depends heavily on your major, financial situation, and campus culture fit.

UC Berkeley Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 11.7%
  • Avg Net Price: $14,979
  • Median Earnings (10 yr): $92,446
  • Graduation Rate: 92.9%

UIUC Strengths

  • SAT Range (25th–75th): 1270–1510
  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $34,501
  • Total Enrollment: 34,623

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