Federal
Federal Pell Grant
Up to $7,395 a year (2026–27)
Who qualifies: undergraduates with financial need, based on the FAFSA. It never has to be repaid.
How: file the FAFSA.
Official rules →Paying for college · Champaign, IL
How students pay for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Sticker price $34,226 a year. After grants, the average student pays $13,042, and what you pay depends on your family's income: anywhere from $871 to $29,998.
- 42%admitted
- 36,258undergraduates
- 86%graduate
- 45%get a grant from the school
Free tuition program
Illinois Commitment
Who: New freshmen and transfers under 24 who graduated from an Illinois high school, are Illinois residents (with parents), and have family income of $75,000 or less and family assets of $75,000 or less What: Covers tuition and campus fees not paid by other grants and scholarships, for up to 4 years (freshmen) or 3 years (transfers); FAFSA must be filed by March 15 each year
Official details →What it costs, by family income
Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, paying in-state tuition. Tap your bracket.
Out-of-state tuition is $36,706 a year versus $16,354 for Illinois residents, so non-residents usually pay far more than these figures.
Where the money comes from
Share of first-year students receiving each type of aid, and the average amount.
45%grant from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaignavg $10,783
22%Federal Pell Grantavg $5,482
31%state grantavg $7,583
30%federal student loanavg $4,972
Scholarships from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Awards the school itself offers, as published on its own website (checked 2026-10-28). Amounts and deadlines change: confirm on the linked page.
- Stamps ScholarshipUp to the full cost of attendance
Incoming freshmen.
- Provost ScholarshipFull tuition
Incoming freshmen.
- President's Award Program Honors (PAP Honors)Up to $10,000
The highest-achieving newly admitted Illinois-resident freshmen.
- President's Award Program (PAP)Up to $5,000
Newly admitted high-achieving Illinois-resident freshmen.
- Illinois Achievement Scholarship$10,000
Incoming out-of-state freshmen with financial need.
- Matthews Scholars$2,000 a year
Incoming freshmen.
- University of Illinois Transfer Scholarship$2,000 (not renewable)
High-achieving first-generation transfers from an Illinois community college with 30 or more transferable graded hours and financial need.
- Native American Scholarship - Tribal NationsThe difference between out-of-state and in-state tuition
Non-Illinois residents who are members of a federally recognized Tribal Nation.
Priority FAFSA deadline: March 15, 2027 (preferential filing deadline for 2027-28).
Grants and scholarships you can apply for
State grant · Illinois
Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant
Up to $8,064 for 2026–27, paid toward tuition and mandatory fees only; less if you take fewer than 15 credit hours a term.
Who qualifies: Illinois residents in undergraduate study at an approved Illinois college who have financial need (Student Aid Index of 9,000 or less), have no bachelor's degree, and take at least 3 credit hours a term.
How: File the FAFSA as soon as possible after it opens on 1 October. Funding runs out each year: for 2026–27, no new awards were announced for FAFSAs received after 23 April 2026.
Official rules →State grant · Illinois
AIM HIGH Grant
Set each year by each public university, depending on state funding; renewable.
Who qualifies: Students who attended an Illinois high school, enroll for the first time as full-time undergraduates at an Illinois public university, and have household income no higher than eight times the federal poverty guideline; each university adds its own merit rules, such as a minimum GPA.
How: File the FAFSA and get admitted; most universities need no separate application. Check your university's financial aid office for its priority date.
Official rules →State grants follow your home state, not the school's: check your own state's programs if you are coming from elsewhere.
Living in Champaign
| Studio | $1,130/mo |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom | $1,150/mo |
| Two-bedroom, shared | $675/mo each |
HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents, campus ZIP 61820. Campus housing is often cheaper in the first year.
Working while you study
$15.00/hour minimum wage in Illinois
15 hours a week over a 30-week academic year ≈ $6,750 before tax. That covers about 10 months of a shared room.
Minimum wage: $15.00 for workers 18 and older; no further statewide increase is scheduled. Ask the financial aid office whether you qualify for Federal Work-Study.
After graduation
$17,750median federal debt≈ $202/month over 10 years
$87,599median earnings10 years after enrolling
86%graduate within 6 yearsfirst-time students
Close the gap without another loan
Since July 2026 Parent PLUS loans are capped, so more families are left with a gap after aid. Students use My Study Fund to collect monthly support from family, friends and mentors: 20 people giving $25 a month is $6,000 a year, and you receive every dollar.
Questions students ask about paying for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offer free tuition?
Yes: Illinois Commitment. New freshmen and transfers under 24 who graduated from an Illinois high school, are Illinois residents (with parents), and have family income of $75,000 or less and family assets of $75,000 or less Covers tuition and campus fees not paid by other grants and scholarships, for up to 4 years (freshmen) or 3 years (transfers); FAFSA must be filed by March 15 each year.
What scholarships does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offer?
Stamps Scholarship (Up to the full cost of attendance); Provost Scholarship (Full tuition); President's Award Program Honors (PAP Honors) (Up to $10,000); President's Award Program (PAP) (Up to $5,000); Illinois Achievement Scholarship ($10,000). Details and deadlines are on the school's financial aid pages.
How much does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign really cost after financial aid?
The average student who received aid paid $13,042 a year after grants and scholarships. By family income it ranges from $871 to $29,998. The full cost of attendance before aid is $34,226.
Does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign give scholarships and grants?
Yes. 45% of first-year students received a grant from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign itself, averaging $10,783. 22% received a Federal Pell Grant (average $5,482).
How much is rent near University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for the campus ZIP code (61820) is $1,150 a month for a one-bedroom and $1,350 for a two-bedroom, about $675 each when shared.
Can I work part-time while studying at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Yes. The minimum wage in Illinois is $15.00 an hour; 15 hours a week over a 30-week academic year earns about $6,750 before tax.
How much debt do University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates have?
The median federal debt at graduation is $17,750, about $202 a month on a 10-year plan. Median earnings ten years after enrolling are $87,599.
Sources
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 10152026) and IPEDS (SFA2223 student financial aid, first-time full-time students); HUD FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents; state and federal program pages linked above, checked 2026-10-28. My Study Fund is not affiliated with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. How these pages work.
More in Illinois: All colleges in Illinois →