UIUC Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Class of 2029 recorded an overall acceptance rate of 36.59%, admitting 30,384 students out of 83,045 applicants.

At UIUC, Early Action (EA) decisions are typically released in late January, while Regular Decision (RD) results are expected in early to mid-March. However, UIUC does not publicly report separate admissions data for EA and RD rounds. Overall admissions figures are typically released after the full cycle concludes.

In this blog, we’ll break down UIUC’s most recent overall, waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates and explore how selectivity has evolved throughout the years.

• UIUC Acceptance Rates
• UIUC Early Action and Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• UIUC Transfer Acceptance Rate
• UIUC Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

UIUC Acceptance Rates

UIUC’s acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 fell to 36.59%, down from 42.37% for the Class of 2028. This drop was largely due to a surge in applications, rising from 73,742 to 83,045, while the number of admitted students slightly decreased (31,247 down to 30,384).

Over the past decade, UIUC has become increasingly selective in its admissions. Here’s the full breakdown:

Note: All data has been compiled from UIUC’s Common Data Set.

UIUC has seen a sharp rise in applications over the past decade, increasing from 38,965 applicants for the Class of 2021 to 83,045 for the Class of 2029. Meanwhile, the number of admitted students has remained relatively stable, generally between 23,974 and 31,247 admits each year.

As applications surged while admission capacity stayed similar, UIUC’s acceptance rate declined significantly. The highest acceptance rate during this period was 63.30% for the Class of 2024, while the lowest was 36.59% for the Class of 2029.

UIUC Early Action and Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

While applying EA allows students to receive an earlier admissions decision, the university does not release separate acceptance rates for EA or RD applicants.

Instead, UIUC publishes only overall admissions statistics after each cycle, without breaking down results by application round. Because of this, it’s not possible to determine a precise acceptance rate for EA versus RD, and applicants must rely on general admissions trends rather than round-specific data.

UIUC Transfer Acceptance Rate

For Fall 2024, UIUC reported a 48.08% transfer acceptance rate. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2024 transfer data is from UIUC’s Common Data Set for 2024-2025, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2028 first-year admissions data.

UIUC’s Fall 2024 transfer cycle was less selective, with a 48.08% transfer acceptance rate, higher than its overall acceptance rate of 42.37% for the same year.

UIUC Waitlist Acceptance Rate

The most recent waitlist data come from the Class of 2028, when UIUC had a 0.05% waitlist acceptance rate. Here’s the breakdown:

For the Class of 2028, UIUC admitted just one student. By comparison, the university’s overall acceptance rate was 42.37%, highlighting how exceptionally competitive the waitlist process is compared to the general applicant pool.

UIUC uses its waitlist when more qualified applicants apply than available spots. The list is unranked, and admissions decisions are made through holistic review to shape the incoming class. Students may be waitlisted for either their first-choice major or the undeclared program, as indicated in their decision letter. The number of waitlisted students admitted varies each year, ranging from none to several hundred, depending on available space.

To know more about UIUC’s waitlist trends through the years and the steps you can take if you get placed on the waitlist, check out our guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is UIUC’s current acceptance rate?

The most recent confirmed overall acceptance rate for UIUC is 36.59% for the Class of 2029. Out of 83,045 applicants, the university admitted 30,384 students.

2. Is it easier to get into UIUC through Early Action or Regular Decision?

Because UIUC does not release separate acceptance rates for EA and RD, no clear data shows how statistically easier one round is than the other.

3. How hard is it to transfer to UIUC?

For Fall 2024, UIUC reported a 48.08% transfer acceptance rate. This is slightly higher than its overall Class of 2028 first-year acceptance rate of 42.37%.

4. What are my chances of getting off UIUC’s waitlist?

Waitlist outcomes vary by year and enrollment needs. For the Class of 2028, UIUC admitted only one student from the waitlist, resulting in a 0.05% waitlist acceptance rate.

5. Why is UIUC’s acceptance rate relatively low?

UIUC’s acceptance rate is relatively low because it attracts a large and increasingly competitive applicant pool, averaging around 55,600 applicants each year, while offering a more limited number of spots, with about 27,700 students admitted. As a result, even as a large public university, UIUC’s strong reputation and high demand contribute to its relatively low acceptance rate.

Takeaways

• UIUC’s acceptance rate has become more competitive in recent years, declining from 61.53% for the Class of 2021 to 36.59% for the Class of 2029 as application numbers have surged.
• The university does not release detailed EA vs. RD acceptance rates, so it’s difficult to determine how statistically advantageous it is to apply early.
• For Fall 2024, UIUC’s transfer acceptance rate was 48.08%, and for that same year, the waitlist acceptance rate was an extremely low 0.05%.
• With competition increasing, a strong, well-targeted application is essential. Strategic preparation with a college admissions expert can help you highlight your academic strengths and stand out in UIUC’s evolving admissions process.