Is the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign cheaper than the University of Maryland for out-of-state students?

The biggest practical tradeoff is that both schools charge a significant out-of-state premium, but UIUC is often a bit less expensive on sticker price than the University of Maryland for nonresidents. Housing, meal plans, travel, and program-specific fees can narrow or widen the difference.

For a student who is not from Illinois or Maryland, UIUC is often the cheaper of the two before aid, but not by an amount that automatically makes the decision easy. That said, your actual bill can flip if one school gives more merit aid or need-based support.

It also matters what major you are comparing. At UIUC, some programs, especially in engineering, business, or other high-demand areas, can carry different tuition levels or added fees. Maryland can also have differences by college or program, so comparing the exact major at each school is more useful than comparing only the university-wide average.

One more thing to watch is how each school handles merit scholarships for out-of-state students. Neither school is known for making out-of-state attendance cheap across the board, but one scholarship offer can matter more than a modest sticker-price gap.

So the short answer is yes: UIUC is usually somewhat cheaper than the University of Maryland for out-of-state students on published cost, but the only number that really settles it is each school’s net price after scholarships, grants, and your specific housing and major costs.