Overview
Applicants
1,369
Acceptance Rate
46%
Median Undergrad GPA
3.51
Accepted Applicants Who Attend
162
Test Scores
LSAT
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
(enrolled students)
158 - 163
Application Process
Rolling Admissions
Yes
Application Fee
$0
CAS Service Used
Yes
Applicants accepted in terms other than fall
No
Transfer Applicants Accepted
Yes
Deferred Admission
Yes
Other Admission Factors
Selectivity Rating
Faculty Information
Students Say
鈥淵ou鈥檒l definitely get the bang for your buck鈥 at the University of Illinois College of Law, 鈥渁 jewel amid the cornfields [that boasts] the best mix of academic excellence, social interaction, and human decency for the best price available.鈥 Tuition is especially affordable for in-state students. The 鈥渢ireless [administration] is also very accessible鈥 and extraordinarily popular among students.
Students at the U of I tell us emphatically that 鈥渢he faculty is the school鈥檚 greatest strength.鈥 The 鈥渢ough but not unreasonable鈥 professors are 鈥減rolific writers [who are] clearly brilliant and accomplished.鈥 Students say the professors 鈥渁re, for the most part fantastic, both in and out of the classroom [and] always able to clarify concepts that are confusing. More significant, they are completely available [and] genuinely interested in teaching and working with students.鈥 The professors make an effort to be reached in that they 鈥渉ave open-door policies and are available for discussions with students about class, a job, or just life in general.鈥 Students also note that the school 鈥渆mploys a nice mix of tenured and adjunct faculty, which makes for a perfect balance of legal theory and real-world experience. The primary complaint that students have with regard to the faculty is 鈥渒eeping the good professors around.鈥 One student explains, 鈥淭here鈥檚 not much reason for them to stay in central Illinois. The school really needs to make an effort to not let the good ones get away.鈥
Graduates enjoy 鈥渁 great employment rate鈥 thanks to an aggressive Office of Career Planning and Professional Development. As one transfer student attests, 鈥淚鈥檓 in a unique position in that I鈥檝e seen how two different law schools operate. I was blown away by the quality of the Career Services Department at the University of Illinois. The administration goes to great lengths to make sure that not only do all University of Illinois College of Law graduates get jobs, but that they get the jobs they want.鈥 鈥淚f you do well here, nothing in Chicago will be off limits.鈥 However, students complain that the college 鈥渘eeds to broaden its resources [and] expand beyond the Midwestern market.鈥 Until that happens, 鈥渋t is difficult to get much traction鈥 on either coast 鈥渨hen searching for jobs in Champaign.鈥
The facilities at the U of I 鈥渁re good鈥漣n that everything has been converted to WiFi, and the research resources of the library are as abundant as you鈥檒l find anywhere. Overall, though, the 鈥渞ather Spartan [College of Law] could use some serious help.鈥 Suffice it to say, the 鈥渋ncredibly ugly and cheap-looking [building] does not give anyone goose bumps for the grand study of the law.鈥 One student writes, 鈥淭here are no windows in any of the rooms.鈥 It鈥檚 like going to school in a casino.鈥 Students note, 鈥淪ometimes seats are scarce [in the] crowded鈥 classrooms, as well as in the 鈥渃ramped鈥 library, though now that the school has reduced the size of the incoming class, this should help to alleviate the problem. Also, wear layers because 鈥渢here also seems to be a bit of a temperature control problem鈥 no matter what the season.
Students at the U of I tell us emphatically that 鈥渢he faculty is the school鈥檚 greatest strength.鈥 The 鈥渢ough but not unreasonable鈥 professors are 鈥減rolific writers [who are] clearly brilliant and accomplished.鈥 Students say the professors 鈥渁re, for the most part fantastic, both in and out of the classroom [and] always able to clarify concepts that are confusing. More significant, they are completely available [and] genuinely interested in teaching and working with students.鈥 The professors make an effort to be reached in that they 鈥渉ave open-door policies and are available for discussions with students about class, a job, or just life in general.鈥 Students also note that the school 鈥渆mploys a nice mix of tenured and adjunct faculty, which makes for a perfect balance of legal theory and real-world experience. The primary complaint that students have with regard to the faculty is 鈥渒eeping the good professors around.鈥 One student explains, 鈥淭here鈥檚 not much reason for them to stay in central Illinois. The school really needs to make an effort to not let the good ones get away.鈥
Graduates enjoy 鈥渁 great employment rate鈥 thanks to an aggressive Office of Career Planning and Professional Development. As one transfer student attests, 鈥淚鈥檓 in a unique position in that I鈥檝e seen how two different law schools operate. I was blown away by the quality of the Career Services Department at the University of Illinois. The administration goes to great lengths to make sure that not only do all University of Illinois College of Law graduates get jobs, but that they get the jobs they want.鈥 鈥淚f you do well here, nothing in Chicago will be off limits.鈥 However, students complain that the college 鈥渘eeds to broaden its resources [and] expand beyond the Midwestern market.鈥 Until that happens, 鈥渋t is difficult to get much traction鈥 on either coast 鈥渨hen searching for jobs in Champaign.鈥
The facilities at the U of I 鈥渁re good鈥漣n that everything has been converted to WiFi, and the research resources of the library are as abundant as you鈥檒l find anywhere. Overall, though, the 鈥渞ather Spartan [College of Law] could use some serious help.鈥 Suffice it to say, the 鈥渋ncredibly ugly and cheap-looking [building] does not give anyone goose bumps for the grand study of the law.鈥 One student writes, 鈥淭here are no windows in any of the rooms.鈥 It鈥檚 like going to school in a casino.鈥 Students note, 鈥淪ometimes seats are scarce [in the] crowded鈥 classrooms, as well as in the 鈥渃ramped鈥 library, though now that the school has reduced the size of the incoming class, this should help to alleviate the problem. Also, wear layers because 鈥渢here also seems to be a bit of a temperature control problem鈥 no matter what the season.
Dates
Financial Aid Rating
Mar 15
Financial Aid Statistics
Expenses per Academic Year
In-State Tuition
$38,250
Out-Of-State Tuition
$46,000
Estimated Off-Campus Room and Board
$13,710
Estimated Cost for Books / Academic Expense
$4,550
Fees
$3,925
Student Body Profile
Total Enrollment
477
Demographics
100% are full time
0% are part time
Campus Life
Students Say
If they do say so themselves, the students at the U of I are 鈥渧ery amiable, noncompetitive, [and] very intellectually minded, yet not stuck on themselves.鈥 These are the 鈥渂rightest [and] most fun鈥 people鈥斺漚ll the cool, smart kids.鈥 Students at the U of I are also 鈥渁 bit neurotic [and] love to hear their own voices.鈥 The student population 鈥渉as a wonderful mix of student ethnicities, religions, sexual orientation, and gender.鈥 There is also a laid-back atmosphere on campus. 鈥淓verybody really cares about you. They want you to succeed, and it鈥檚 almost difficult not to.鈥
鈥淭he school truly is a community because of its manageable size. Lunches with the dean鈥 are common, and there are 鈥渆ndless other ways to connect with the other students and, more important, the faculty.鈥 One content student writes, 鈥淭he cafeteria has good food and, best of all, they carry Starbucks coffee.鈥 Students also say, 鈥淎lthough U of I is located in the corn fields of Illinois, it is impossible to feel isolated鈥 because the administration 鈥渋s constantly bringing in lecturers, symposiums, and guest speakers.鈥 In addition, the College of Law sponsors a 鈥渨eekly鈥 get-together 鈥渇or law students, faculty, and administrators.
Life outside the classroom has many positive aspects. Students are very 鈥渟ports- oriented鈥 and say, 鈥淚t is great to be on a Big Ten campus and be able to devote yourself to the study of law full time.鈥 Surprising though it seems, 鈥渢here is actually a lot to do in Urbana-Champaign.鈥 There are 鈥済reat bars, coffee houses, [and] centers for the arts.鈥 There is also 鈥渁 progressive music scene.鈥 Some students gripe that 鈥渟ocial life can seem dominated by a frat/sorority type atmosphere,鈥 even at the law school level. 鈥淭he town is basically designed for college students, so it gets a little dullsville at times.鈥 Many students would 鈥減refer to be in a larger city,鈥 with Chicago being the example of choice. 鈥淪ocially, we do the best we can with the town we鈥檙e in,鈥 asserts one student. 鈥淭hat means we drink a lot [and] go en masse to football and basketball games.鈥
鈥淭he school truly is a community because of its manageable size. Lunches with the dean鈥 are common, and there are 鈥渆ndless other ways to connect with the other students and, more important, the faculty.鈥 One content student writes, 鈥淭he cafeteria has good food and, best of all, they carry Starbucks coffee.鈥 Students also say, 鈥淎lthough U of I is located in the corn fields of Illinois, it is impossible to feel isolated鈥 because the administration 鈥渋s constantly bringing in lecturers, symposiums, and guest speakers.鈥 In addition, the College of Law sponsors a 鈥渨eekly鈥 get-together 鈥渇or law students, faculty, and administrators.
Life outside the classroom has many positive aspects. Students are very 鈥渟ports- oriented鈥 and say, 鈥淚t is great to be on a Big Ten campus and be able to devote yourself to the study of law full time.鈥 Surprising though it seems, 鈥渢here is actually a lot to do in Urbana-Champaign.鈥 There are 鈥済reat bars, coffee houses, [and] centers for the arts.鈥 There is also 鈥渁 progressive music scene.鈥 Some students gripe that 鈥渟ocial life can seem dominated by a frat/sorority type atmosphere,鈥 even at the law school level. 鈥淭he town is basically designed for college students, so it gets a little dullsville at times.鈥 Many students would 鈥減refer to be in a larger city,鈥 with Chicago being the example of choice. 鈥淪ocially, we do the best we can with the town we鈥檙e in,鈥 asserts one student. 鈥淭hat means we drink a lot [and] go en masse to football and basketball games.鈥
Admissions Office Contact
Contact
Rebecca Ray
Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid
Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid
Address
504 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Room 201
MC-594
Champaign, IL 61820
MC-594
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone
217-244-6415
Email
law-admissions@illinois.edu
