The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is one of the best public universities in the United States for engineering and computer science — the Grainger College of Engineering is tied for 6th in the U.S. News 2026 Best Engineering Schools list, and its computer science programme is consistently ranked in the top five nationally. UIUC is also strong in business (Gies), agriculture, physics and the natural sciences. For international students, it offers world-class teaching at a public-university price, but admission to the most popular programmes — especially computer science and engineering — is fiercely competitive. This profile covers tuition, admission and deadlines.
Tuition and cost of attendance 2026-27 (verified)
Illinois charges international students a separate tuition rate, and many majors add a differential on top of the base rate. For new first-year international students in 2026-27:
| Item | Amount (2026-27) |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, international (by major) | US$42,248–53,078 per year |
| Estimated total cost, international (by major) | US$62,146–72,976 per year |
| Grainger Engineering master's tuition, non-resident | US$40,444 per year |
| Graduate tuition, non-resident (range) | US$32,204–52,212 per year |
Engineering and business cost the most, because of the programme differentials. Illinois guarantees resident tuition for four years for in-state students, but for international students the board raised out-of-state and international rates by 7% to 14.5% for 2026-27, so expect your cost to change from year to year. Use the university's Cost Calculator for your exact major. Need-based aid is not available to international undergraduates, so plan on paying the full cost — though the university does offer a small number of merit scholarships, and Grainger Engineering offers a five-year funding guarantee for PhD students (full tuition waiver, partial fee waiver and stipend). Master's students mostly pay their own way, at US$40,444 a year in 2026-27 tuition for Grainger programmes.
Admission and deadlines
UIUC's overall acceptance rate is about 40–45%, but the rate for the most popular programmes is far lower: Grainger Engineering admitted about 23.3% of first-choice applicants, and computer science is more competitive still. Applications go through the university's own application system (not the Common Application). The usual deadline for Fall 2027 is 5 January 2027 for international first-year applicants (confirm the current cycle on the admissions page). UIUC is test-optional for undergraduate admission, but strong SAT/ACT scores can help for engineering and computer science. For English, international students usually need TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5–7.5, depending on the programme (Grainger recommends IELTS 7.5 for some graduate programmes). For graduate admission, most Fall 2027 deadlines fall between 1 December 2026 and 15 January 2027, the international application fee is US$90, and the GRE is optional in electrical and computer engineering and in civil and environmental engineering.
Popular programmes
UIUC's strongest programmes are Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Business (Gies College), Accounting and Finance, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Psychology. The university is also known for its research in artificial intelligence, its National Center for Supercomputing Applications (home of the Blue Waters supercomputer), and its large alumni network in Silicon Valley and Chicago. Graduate strengths include the Grainger College of Engineering, the Gies College of Business and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Urbana-Champaign is a classic Midwestern college town with a low cost of living — a real advantage over coastal universities.
Applying from Pakistan
Pakistani students apply through the university's application portal with their FSc or A-level results, a school report and an English test score. A four-year bachelor's degree is required for graduate admission; three-year degrees are not eligible for Grainger programmes. The undergraduate application fee is US$90 for international students. After admission, the university issues the I-20 for the F-1 visa; you will need to show proof of funds for the full cost of attendance (about US$62,000–73,000 a year, depending on your major) before the I-20 is issued. Because computer science and engineering are so competitive, apply to a second-choice major as well — UIUC lets you list an alternate programme — and make sure your maths and science grades are your strongest.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to get into UIUC computer science? Very hard — Grainger Engineering admitted about 23.3% of first-choice applicants, and computer science is more competitive than the college average.
Does UIUC offer financial aid to international students? Need-based aid is not available to international undergraduates. Merit scholarships exist but are limited; PhD students in Grainger get a five-year funding guarantee.
Do I need the GRE for a Grainger master's? The GRE is optional in electrical and computer engineering and in civil and environmental engineering. Check your department's page.
What English score do I need? Usually TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5 for undergraduate admission, and up to IELTS 7.5 for some graduate programmes.
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Sources and verification: University of Illinois Office of the Registrar and Admissions (2026-27 international tuition and fees US$42,248–53,078; estimated total US$62,146–72,976; Grainger Engineering non-resident master's tuition US$40,444; graduate tuition US$32,204–52,212); Grainger Engineering admission (23.3% first-choice admit rate; US$90 international fee; GRE optional in ECE and CEE; Fall 2027 deadlines 1 December 2026–15 January 2027; undergraduate deadline 5 January 2027 — confirm on the admissions page). 2027-28 rates to be confirmed.