Tuition, Cost & Aid

The costs of tuition, room and board can be really expensive or inexpensive depending on how you go about financing them and finding the right deals.

Yes, U of I is now the most expensive state school in Illinois. However, comparing this university to smaller private ones that cost almost double U of I's tuition, I would say you definitely get the bang for the buck. Smaller private schools often conger up rumors, drama, and unnecessary issues that are blown out of proportion because people cannot step in other directions and ignore it. This is largely because there are not enough activities and groups available for them to do so. Here at U of I, if there is something or someone you do not get along with, you can bet that removing it or them from your life will be easy. There are so many different things to do, and the campus is so large, that this should not be a concern (this message is especially for those who were scarred by any drama in high school).
If you have read all of the above information, you will see that there are thousands of services the campus is offering you. The ARC, the MTD bus service, the Illini Union, The Oasis, the Career Center, the Office of Minority Student Affairs, McKinley Health Services (this includes insurance and huge discounts on medicine from the pharmacy), and any advisers and councilors that are there to help you through your college experience are all included in your tuition. Considering that almost everything you need on campus is already paid for, I would say U of I definitely gives you the bang for the buck!

Being an out-of-state student I pay a great deal for tuition but I honestly think it is well spent. The transportation system is nearly flawless, the fitness centers on campus are amazing, and the academics are uniquely excellent. I don't have fear that I am wasting money with UIUC.

Tuition prices varied based on which college a student goes into, based on a major. The more math and science classes, the more expensive it becomes. Also, like most colleges, out-of-state students have a higher tuition rate.

Not going to lie on this one; this place is a bit pricey for a public school. It's amenities, such as the ARC and UGL help make up for it, but I would definitely suggest looking for scholarships, because paying for school can be challenging.

UIUC is very expensive if you look at the tuition statement alone. HOWEVER, scholarships are always available for just about anything you can imagine! I received 3 scholarships so far (only 1 of which I had to write an essay, other 2 were given to me because of high GPA), multiple grants, and even more financial aid!

U of I is a school that meets every prospective student's criteria for choosing a school. It is prestige, has a developed night life, has a diverse amount of extracurriculars, and is far away from home but not too far. It is perfect in my eyes.

A bit on the expensive side for those who are not in-state, but in-staters get a great education for a good price. And there are lots of scholarships you can apply for too.

the biggest complaint you will hear from any college student on any college campus is about their student loans. though unavoidable, the university has many payment programs, scholarships, and grants that help make an education affordable for all students. for in-state students, tuition for the whole school year is approximately $15,000-$20,000. for out-of-state students, annual tuition is roughly $30,000-$37,000. for international students, tuition is about $32,000-$42,000. given these prices, as a current student, i would definitely say that i am getting my money's worth. the office of student financial aid also works with students in order to provide access to all possible scholarship opportunities in order to make education affordable. the university provides incomparable resources to aid in a student's education. with one of the largest university library systems in the country, the university of illinois has plenty of places for students to read and study. every time i enter a new building, i am reminded of why i pay so much per year to attend such an amazing university. the engineering quad is filled with some of the newest buildings on campus. this is including the electrical and chemical engineering (ece) building, which has received a green good design award from the european centre for architecture art design and urban studies and the chicago athenaeum for its sustainable design. another notable building is the newest wassaja hall, named after the first native american graduate of the university, which is expected to receive a minimum of leed gold certification. but overall, beyond the state-of-the-art buildings and resources, the friendships and networking connections that are built on this campus are priceless.

I do believe that the U of I gives students the BEST bang for their buck! With this university one can easily achieve an awesome education, meet many new and interesting people. build a great resume for life after college, create networks for their future, find ways to get involved around campus and indulge in something they are passionate about, and more. There are just so many things to be gained from attending this university that one can easily get their money's worth.