Chicago, IL – (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The University of Illinois System has approved a modest tuition increase directed to incoming freshman

According to a press release sent out by the University of Illinois, after resident undergraduate tuition rates were freezing in seven of the previous 11 years, the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois approved a two percent increase in tuition for Illinois resident undergraduate students admitted into the fall of the 2026 academic year.

Tim Killeen, U of I System President, stated in the press release “This modest increase in tuition will allow us to balance the rising costs we as a university system face due to inflation with our commitment to Illinois families that the world-class education we offer remains within reach. Parents and students also can continue to count on our commitment to robust financial aid and our state’s promise to lock in tuition costs for undergraduates.” 

At Champaign-Urbana, nonresident and international undergraduate tuition will increase between seven percent and fourteen and a half percent.

For Chicago, most nonresident and international students will see increases of two percent to close to three and a half percent and in Springfield nonresident tuition will rise two percent.

A majority of graduate programs’ tuition at Champaign-Urbana and Chicago will increase close to three percent, and Springfield tuition for graduate programs will rise by up to five percent

Under state law, tuition rates for new undergraduate students stays flat for four years. almost seventy percent of all resident undergraduate students, enrolled within the U of I System, receive some form of financial aid.  Meanwhile, just above fifty percent pay less than three thousand dollars per semester for tuition and mandatory fees

The Board of Trustees also approved a room and board rate increase of five percent at Champaign-Urbana and Chicago.

Springfield will see an increase of three and a half percent.

At Champaign-Urbana, the change applies to students who are first-time residents

Returning residents, who have maintained continuous occupancy in the residence halls, can expect no change and to continue to pay the same rates that they already pay.