500,000+ living alumni, one of the largest networks of its kind
#2
30+ support centers on campus
#3
#12 public university in the nation (U.S. News)
#4
#1 return on investment in the Big Ten (PayScale)
#5
1,000 academic, athletic, cultural, philanthropic, political, religious, and social student groups
#6
#1 most students of color among top-ranked Midwest universities (NCES)
#7
21 Big Ten, Division I sports teams
#8
18,000 unique employers recruiting Illini last year
#9
Our beloved Alma Mater
#10
Illinois Commitment, our free tuition program, available for all qualified in-state students
#11
#13 U.S. college town (Best College Reviews)
#12
Co-ed, single-gender, and gender-inclusive residence halls
#13
#33 national university for promoting upward social mobility (Washington Monthly)
#14
Incredible faculty like Mats Selen, a U.S. Professor of the Year
#15
#1 information sciences program in the nation (U.S. News)
#16
#1 Midwest food town (Midwest Living)
#17
Regularly leading the nation in National Science Foundation research funding
#18
Green Street, the heart of Campustown and center of student nightlife
#19
92 Fortune 100 companies recruiting Illini last year
#20
Illinois MakerLab, the world's first business school 3D printing lab
#21
#7 special education program in the nation (U.S. News)
#22
Changing seasons on a beautiful campus
#23
First collegiate adapted sports and recreation program for students with disabilities
#24
6 campus recreation facilities, with around 500,000 square feet of indoor space and 75 acres of outdoor space to stay active
#25
The tradition of homecoming since 1910
#26
27 Pulitzer and 23 Nobel Prize winners among faculty and alumni
#27
Talented a cappella groups like No Comment
#28
2 Illini named Rhodes scholars in the past 5 years
#29
38 club sports, many of which are competitive traveling teams
#30
#15 university in producing startup founders (Pitchbook)
#31
The Illini Union's Courtyard Café and study lounges
#32
Our Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the first in the nation to focus on the intersection of engineering and medicine
#33
Our Main, Engineering, and South Quads
#34
Tasty campus food trucks (yum!)
#35
Alumna Temple Grandin (1989), leader in animal welfare and the rights of people with autism
#36
30% of students participating in study abroad each year
#37
10-time Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award recipient
#38
Campus Rec's group fitness classes, personal training sessions, instructional cooking classes, and rock climbing
#39
The Marching Illini, the nation's premier college marching band
#40
Ice skating at the Ice Arena
#41
Our 5 cultural centers: Asian American Cultural Center, Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center, La Casa Cultural Latina, Native American House, and Salaam Middle East & North Africa Cultural Center
#42
Our perfect 100 score on the Municipality Equality Index, making us a top LGBTQ+ friendly town (Municipal Equality Index)
#43
88% of Illini participating in experiential learning opportunities (internships, assistantships, service learning, etc.)
#44
44% of Illini who participate in experiential learning opportunities receiving job offers as a result
#45
Saliva-based COVID-19 test developed by campus in just 6 weeks
#46
#35 university in the nation (U.S. News)
#47
Outdoor Center Playfields for football, soccer, rugby, basketball, tennis, sand volleyball, and more
#48
Moms and Dads Weekends
#49
7,500+ future classmates (i.e., lots of new friends)
#50
Gies College of Business ranked #17 in the nation (U.S. News)
#51
25% of incoming students received Illinois Commitment in 2022-2023
#52
Illini awarded the most Churchill Scholarships and second-most Marshall Scholarships among public universities
#53
Tons of intramural sport options, from soccer, flag football, and basketball to sand volleyball, pickleball, and bouldering
#54
A nationally recognized Career Center, helping Illini prepare for both grad school and careers
#55
Alumnus Max Levchin (1997), one of PayPal's founders
#56
The Writers Workshop and various tutoring services
#57
#22 best university in the world (Center for World University Rankings)
#58
Memorial Stadium
#59
The Eternal Flame, where "a lover's kiss will bring eternal bliss"
#60
Our create-your-own-major option
#61
37 different residence halls to choose from
#62
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
#63
Centrally located between Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis
#64
Research Park, where students can work with Fortune 100 companies and tech startups
#65
Welcome Week
#66
Our Sustainable Student Farm, which supplies food to our residence halls
#67
Block I, football's student cheering section
#68
95% of Illini employed or continuing education within 6 months of graduation
#69
A national leader in sustainable building design, with 20+ LEED-certified projects
#70
Special guests like 44th President Barack Obama
#71
Close collaboration with faculty through independent studies, research, and special projects
#72
Our Division of Disability Resources & Educational Services, among the nation's best in serving the needs of students with disabilities
#73
175+ research centers, institutes, and programs on campus
#74
iVenture Accelerator, which supports student-led startups with knowledge, access, and funding
#75
7,000+ classes offered each year
#76
Squirrels!
#77
First university to receive Barrier-Free America Award, which recognizes excellence in accessibility design
#78
Countless places to nap on campus (not during class, of course)
#79
Siebel Center for Design, the only from-the-ground-up interdisciplinary design center in the U.S.
#80
Alumnus Jeremy Stoppelman (1999), a founder of Yelp and its current CEO
#81
#5 computer science program in the nation (U.S. News)
#82
Illini Pride and its 3,000+ members
#83
The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
#84
University Housing's Good2Go Food Truck, which serves dining hall food on the go
#85
90+ parks and green spaces across Champaign-Urbana
#86
Our Counseling Center, which provides mental health counseling and well-being education for students
#87
Alumnus Nick Offerman (1993), best known as Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation
#88
11 Living-Learning Communities for students with common interests
First Architecture graduate in the U.S., Nathan C. Ricker
#92
A top destination for entrepreneurs (Forbes)
#93
3 honors programs—college, campus, and departmental honors
#94
Academy Award-winning director and alumnus Ang Lee (1980)
#95
Urbana's Market at the Square and other farmers' markets
#96
One of just 34 5-star U.S. universities combining quality and affordability (Money)
#97
6th largest community of international students in the U.S. (Open Doors)
#98
Starting salaries over $12,000 higher than the national average (NACE)
#99
The chance to do research starting your first year on campus
#100
Gender & Sexuality Resource Center
#101
European Union Center and International Coffee House
#102
Apple orchards, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, sunflower fields, and more
#103
Fewer than 50 students in 80% of classes
#104
Illinois Student Senate, Illini Union Board, and the Leadership Center
#105
Housing options for 25 fraternities and 20 sororities
#106
#25 university in producing female startup founders (Pitchbook)
#107
Alumnus Roger Ebert (1964) and Ebertfest, his annual film festival
#108
Japan House
#109
Engineering Open House's Tesla coil concert
#110
#25 best Midwest startup city (Midwest Startups)
#111
Siebel Center, home to one of the world's leading centers for computer science research
#112
CU Pride Fest
#113
20-time Paralympic medalist and alumna Tatyana McFadden (2014)
#114
#6 psychology program in the nation (U.S. News)
#115
50 U.S. states and 123 countries represented on campus
#116
One of the most respected public research universities in the world
#117
A first-gen forward institution (Center for First-Generation Student Success)
#118
Performances by Doja Cat, Post Malone, The 1975, Drake, Wilco, and Garth Brooks
#119
Handshake, our campus-wide recruiting platform
#120
#2 accounting program in the nation (U.S. News)
#121
Alumni Jawed Karim (2004) and Steve Chen (1999), two of YouTube's founders
#122
The first University yell: "Rah! Hoo-rah! Zip, boom, ah! Hip-zoo! Razoo! Jimmy, blow your bazoo! Ipzidyiki, U of I! Champaign!"
#123
International Student and Scholar Services, part of Illinois International
#124
A micro-urban community, giving you all the perks of big-city living in a relaxed setting
#125
Champaign County African American Heritage Trail Credit: Bethel AME Church (Doris K. Wylie Hoskins Collection, Museum of the Grand Prairie, Mahomet, IL)
#126
A top 20 college for veterans (U.S. News)
#127
300+ study abroad programs in 75 countries
#128
Office of Minority Student Affairs, which supports first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented students
#129
Morrow Plots, the longest-running experimental cornfield in the Western Hemisphere
#130
Complex Fields for football, softball, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, and ultimate
#131
A silver bicycle-friendly university (League of American Bicyclists)
#132
Spurlock Museum
#133
Unique community book shops and record stores
#134
Dial-a-Carol, the longest-running tradition in University Housing
#135
#1 prettiest campus in the universe (okay, we're biased)
#136
Our Vet Med Open House, which is free and open to the public
#137
Quin, our Quintessential Engineer
#138
Four-year tuition guarantee for undergrads
#139
Movies on the Quad
#140
Lincoln's nose, which students rub for good luck on exams
#141
Classes right in your residence hall
#142
Amazing fall foliage
#143
Veteran Student Support Services and the Chez Veterans Center
#144
Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and kosher options available at dining halls
#145
Alumna Kimberly Lewis (2013), CEO and cofounder of CurlMix
#146
Quad Day
#147
Boneyard Arts Festival
#148
The opportunity to study abroad and still graduate on time
#149
Business Instructional Facility (BIF), the first business facility at a public university to earn LEED platinum certification
#150
Illinois RapidVent, a working prototype of an emergency ventilator for COVID-19 patients, developed by campus in 12 days
#151
Coffee, coffee everywhere!
#152
94% of first-year students returning as sophomores
#153
The first accessible university residence halls and first wheelchair-accessible fixed-route bus system
#154
The ARC: 340,000 square feet devoted to campus recreation
#155
Tailgating at Grange Grove
#156
Our school colors (we bleed orange and blue!)
#157
Grainger Library, one of the largest Engineering libraries in the country
#158
Spring cherry blossoms in the Arboretum
#159
Krannert Art Museum
#160
October Lovers, a club for students who love autumn
#161
#7 public college for career placement services (The Princeton Review)
#162
Hallene Gateway, the perfect entrance to campus
#163
Countless study locations both indoor and outdoor across campus
#164
Live music and concerts all year long
#165
Illini Hockey
#166
4 meal plan options and flexible dining credits
#167
A top producer of Fulbright U.S. Student Awards for 4 of the past 5 years
#168
The Campus Instructional Facility, a collaborative hub for students across all disciplines
#169
24-hour computer centers
#170
Rated a best value in higher education (Forbes & The Princeton Review)
#171
Career drop-in advising services as well as resume and cover letter reviews
#172
Stress relief animals during finals week
#173
Art Coalition, Link, and Illini Union Art Galleries
#174
Study abroad costs comparable to attending UIUC, with financial aid and scholarships available
#175
Alumnus Michael Hopkins (1991), NASA astronaut
#176
18% undergrad participation in fraternal organizations, with 87 fraternities and sororities
#177
Illini Media Company, which includes WPGU, our student radio station, and The Daily Illini, our student newspaper
#178
Foellinger Auditorium
#179
Transformative learning experiences both in and outside of the classroom
#180
Home to 34 culturally affiliated fraternity and sorority organizations
#181
ELLNORA Guitar Festival
#182
Zipcars and VeoRides available for use on and off campus
#183
The Grainger College of Engineering ranked #7 in the nation (U.S. News)
#184
Alumni who have created Mosaic, ILLIAC I, PLATO, DSL, the plasma display, and Netscape
#185
A six-year graduation rate of 85% (close to 23% higher than the national average)
#186
#2 in diversity among top-ranked Midwest universities (NCES)
#187
#2 civil engineering program in the nation (U.S. News)
#188
One of the largest university libraries in the U.S. with over 14,000,000 volumes (American Library Association)
#189
#12 marketing program in the nation (U.S. News)
#190
SafeRides and SafeWalks at night
#191
Our favorite chant: I-L-L ... I-N-I!
#192
The Illini Union's visiting lecturers, performances, and Illinites
#193
A pioneer in online education
#194
Our annual Community and Campus Day of Service
#195
HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey, who, according to the film, "became operational at the HAL Plant in Urbana, Illinois"
#196
Bowling at the Illini Union
#197
The classic college quad
#198
Academic advisors available to every student
#199
College and campus-wide career fairs
#200
The Illini 4000, who raise money for cancer research while biking across the U.S.
#201
23,057 students of color on campus, more than any other top-ranked Midwest university (NCES)
#202
Housing's helpful roommate matching system
#203
150+ majors to choose from
#204
State-of-the-art, loanable technology and support through Media Commons
#205
A wide collection of mouth-watering cuisines, both on campus and off
#206
Beckwith Residential Support Services at Nugent Hall
#207
Stargazing at the Campus Observatory
#208
Our transfer student housing community in Scott Hall
#209
Cool boutiques, vintage shops, and thrift stores
#210
Residence halls within walking distance to the center of campus
#211
18:1 student-to-faculty ratio
#212
A huge range of class sizes
#213
Faculty-led study abroad programs
#214
Pygmalion Festival
#215
Our Orange Krush Club, the first student club space of its kind in college athletics
#216
CRCE, which has a pool, waterslide, hot tub, modern exercise equipment, multiple gyms, and racquetball courts
#217
#2 materials science program in the nation (U.S. News)
#218
State Farm Center
#219
Dance, improv, musical theater, and acting troupes
#220
Minors and pre-professional programs
#221
Alumni who have created Mortal Kombat, JavaScript, Deadspin, and the Willis Tower
#222
38% of grads continuing education to obtain advanced degrees
