How does the acceptance rate at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign compare to Tufts University?

The biggest practical difference is that Tufts is substantially more selective overall, while the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is selective in a way that depends much more on the specific major or college you apply to. In broad terms, Tufts admits a much smaller share of applicants than UIUC. At UIUC, some programs can be relatively accessible, but highly sought-after options like engineering or computer science can become far more competitive than the university-wide rate suggests.

So if you are comparing overall acceptance rate alone, Tufts is generally harder to get into. That is the clearer answer. UIUC’s overall admit rate is higher, but it can be misleading if you are applying to one of its most competitive academic divisions.

For building a college list, treat Tufts as a reach for most applicants. UIUC may be a reach, target, or something in between depending on your intended major, whether you are in-state or out-of-state, and which college within the university you are applying to. That matters a lot more at UIUC than it does at Tufts.

If your goal is to judge your chances responsibly, do not rely on one overall UIUC number from a random website. Look for admission information tied to your intended program, especially if you are considering engineering, business, or computer science. Between the two, Tufts is the tougher admit by overall acceptance rate, but certain UIUC majors can still be extremely difficult to enter.