If there is one thing we know about colleges in Illinois, it's that attending them is quite costly. Perhaps a lesser known figure is which university in the state is the most sought after by prospective undergraduate students?
Using the National Center for Education Statistics database, eCollegeFinder created a map of the "most desirable" college in each state based on the number of undergrad applications received last fall for the 2014-15 academic year.
Since many Illinois high school graduates apply to in-state colleges or to those in our five bordering neighbors -- Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kentucky and Iowa -- in case you needed quick geography refresher, here is a breakdown of universities that received the most applications.
*The number of applications received presumably does not include ones received earlier this year. Additionally, some university websites include estimated costs for 2014-15, whereas others only had 2013-14 tuition expenses available.
- Applications received - 33,203
- Acceptance rate - 62 percent
- Total undergraduates - 32,281
- 56 percent male / 44 percent female
- Total estimated costs for 2014-15 academic year:
- Residents - $30,150 - 35,154
- Non-residents - $44,776 - 49,780
- Application deadline - Jan. 2
- Location - Champaign, Illinois
- Applications received - 37,826
- Acceptance rate - 72 percent
- Total undergraduates - 32,371
- 50 percent male / 49 percent female
- Total costs for 2013-2014 academic year:
- Residents - $23,832
- Non-residents - $45,974
- Application deadline - Nov. 1 (priority deadline for maximum scholarship consideration) & Feb. 1
- Location - Bloomington, Indiana
- Applications received - 23,432
- Acceptance rate - 57 percent
- Total undergraduates - 8,293
- 50 percent male / 50 percent female
- Costs for 2013-2014 academic year:
- Tuition - $35,480
- Typical room and board - $11,000
- Fees - $450
- Total - $46,930
- Application deadline - Dec. 1
- Location - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Applications received - 30,117
- Acceptance rate - 16 percent
- Total undergraduates - 7,259
- 48 percent male / 52 percent female
- Costs for 2014-2015 academic year:
- Tuition - $45,700
- Student activity fee - $457
- Student health and wellness fee - $310
- Average university room and board - $13,888
- Total cost - $60,355
- Application deadline - Early/Regular decision (Nov. 15/Jan. 15)
- Location - Saint Louis, Missouri
- Applications received - 19,810
- Acceptance rate - 69 percent
- Total undergraduates - 20,827
- 50 percent male / 50 percent female
- Tuition for 2013-2014 (per semester):
- Lower Division Resident - $4,983
- Lower Division Non-Resident - $10,526
- Upper Division Resident - $5,127
- Upper Division Non-Resident - $10,677
- Mandatory fees - $549
- Application deadline - Feb. 15
- Location - Lexington, Kentucky
- Applications received - 21,642
- Acceptance rate - 80 percent
- Total undergraduates - 21,999
- 48 percent male / 52 percent female
- Total estimated costs for 2014-15 academic year:
- Residents - $20,861
- Tuition and fees - $8,079
- Non-residents - $40,191
- Tuition and fees - $27,409
- Residents - $20,861
- Application deadline - Nov. 15
- Location - Iowa City, Iowa
While tuition alone for non-residents is daunting -- as is cost of attending the "most desirable" school in Illinois -- there are plenty of other higher education options that won't be as strenuous on your bank account. Either way, applying for college should not be based on a popularity contest, but what institutions can offer prospective students to be successful in the real world.
Top 5 Most:
- University of California - Los Angeles - 72,676
- New York University - 57,552
- Pennsylvania State University - 47,552
- Northeastern University - 47,364
- University of Michigan - Ann Arbor - 46,813
- University of Alaska - Anchorage - 3,062
- University of Wyoming - 4,181
- South Dakota State University - 4,851
- North Dakota State University - 5,812
- University of Hawaii at Manoa - 6,901