The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Siebel School of Computing and Data Science is one of the oldest and most research-intensive computer science departments in the United States — UIUC's research lineage includes the historic ILLIAC computers and the original Mosaic web browser, later commercialized as Netscape by UIUC alumnus Marc Andreessen. Its Master of Science in Computer Science draws on that depth, alongside UIUC's scale as a major public research university and one of the largest international student populations of any US public institution (roughly 13,350 international students, about 22–24% of the total student body). This guide covers what the program costs, what UIUC expects from applicants, and how to build a competitive application.
Acceptance Rate: What UIUC Publishes — and What It Doesn't
UIUC does not publish an official aggregate graduate acceptance rate — admission is decided independently by each department, and this dataset's source JSON confirms this explicitly. What UIUC does publish, at the undergraduate level, is a striking illustration of just how selective Computer Science is relative to the rest of the university:
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UIUC overall undergraduate acceptance rate (first-choice) | 36.6% | UIUC's own published Fall 2025 admit-rate data |
| Undergraduate Computer Science (Grainger Engineering) admit rate | ~7% of first-choice applicants | UIUC's own published data — one of the hardest single majors to get into at any US public university |
| MS in Computer Science graduate acceptance rate | Not published | — |
UIUC's MS in Computer Science does not have a published acceptance rate, since Illinois' Graduate College leaves admission decisions to individual departments. However, the ~7% undergraduate CS admit rate is a strong directional signal: it confirms that Computer Science at UIUC is exceptionally oversubscribed relative to the rest of the university even at the undergraduate level, and the graduate MS CS program — which draws from a large global applicant pool competing for a capped number of seats in one of the top-20 computer science departments worldwide (ranked 19th globally by Times Higher Education for Computer Science) — should be assumed to be similarly or more selective. Treat this as an informed estimate grounded in UIUC's own published undergraduate data, not an official MS CS acceptance rate; confirm current selectivity directly with the Siebel School's graduate admissions office if you need a precise figure.
Tuition and Cost of Attendance
UIUC does not publish one consolidated, university-wide graduate tuition or cost-of-attendance figure — graduate tuition varies substantially by department and differential-tuition college, and this dataset's source data leaves graduate cost fields unconfirmed for this reason. UIUC's confirmed undergraduate figures are shown below for reference:
| Cost Item | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate in-state tuition and fees (reference only) | $18,048/year |
| Undergraduate international tuition (Base Rate tier, 2026–27) | $42,248/year ($36,970 tuition + $5,278 mandatory fees) |
| Undergraduate living expenses (food, housing, books, other) | $19,898/year |
| Undergraduate total cost of attendance | $62,146/year |
| Graduate application fee | $90 |
| MS Computer Science tuition | Not centrally published — confirm directly with the Siebel School graduate office |
Note that UIUC's own editorial notes flag that tuition varies significantly by college — Grainger Engineering (home to Computer Science) charges a considerably higher differential tuition than the Base Rate figure above, up to roughly $47,800 total for 2026–27 at the undergraduate level, and graduate CS tuition should be expected to follow a similar or higher differential pattern. UIUC does confirm that most PhD students are funded through a mix of teaching assistantships (TA) and research assistantships (RA) covering tuition, fees, and a living stipend — but this funding structure is generally not guaranteed for most terminal MS students, who should plan to largely self-fund.
Admission Requirements
UIUC's Graduate College sets university-wide documentation requirements, with the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science layering on its own program-specific expectations:
- Statement of Purpose
- Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions
- Three letters of recommendation
- CV/resume
- TOEFL iBT or IELTS scores for applicants who don't qualify for a waiver (Graduate College minimum; the Siebel School commonly expects scores above this floor)
- GRE or GMAT — UIUC's source data confirms many engineering and computing graduate programs, including Computer Science, have dropped the GRE requirement in recent years; always confirm current-cycle policy directly
UIUC does not publish a specific minimum GPA for MS Computer Science at the university level. Given the program's competitiveness — inferred from the ~7% undergraduate CS admit rate and UIUC's global top-20 CS ranking — competitive applicants typically hold a strong undergraduate CS or closely related quantitative degree, generally well above a 3.5/4.0, along with demonstrable technical projects, research experience, or relevant internships.
How to Get Into UIUC's MS in Computer Science
UIUC's own prep insights for graduate applicants flag that Writing is generally the toughest section, since a research-focused Statement of Purpose is scrutinized closely across UIUC's competitive engineering and computing graduate programs. More specifically for MS CS:
- Understand that UIUC's published English-proficiency minimum is a floor, not a target. UIUC's own data explicitly warns that its Graduate College minimum (79 TOEFL / 6.5 IELTS) is considerably below what's actually competitive for Computer Science — several engineering departments publish an internal expectation around TOEFL 103, and applicants who clear only the bare minimum risk being filtered out at a program this selective.
- Build a demonstrable technical portfolio. Given Computer Science's status as one of the hardest single majors to gain admission to at any US public university (confirmed by UIUC's own ~7% undergraduate admit rate), a strong transcript alone is not enough — open-source contributions, research projects, publications, or substantive internships materially strengthen an MS CS application.
- Write a Statement of Purpose that engages with specific Siebel School research areas or faculty. UIUC's breadth across systems, AI, theory, and data science means a generic essay is an easy way to blend into a large applicant pool — specificity signals genuine fit.
- Secure letters of recommendation that speak to research or technical capability. UIUC requires three letters; prioritize recommenders who can describe specific technical contributions over those who can only confirm coursework grades.
- Apply as early as possible within your department's window. UIUC's graduate deadlines cluster around December 15 to January 15 for Fall entry and vary by department — earlier applications avoid the narrowing effect of remaining-seat scarcity later in the cycle.
- Budget at least 10 weeks for combined SOP preparation and English-test prep — UIUC's own recommended graduate timeline, though given the gap between the published floor and the real departmental bar for Computer Science, starting earlier is prudent.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
UIUC's Graduate College publishes a university-wide English-proficiency floor, but this is explicitly flagged in UIUC's own materials as a bare eligibility minimum rather than a competitive target for Computer Science specifically:
| Test | Graduate College Minimum | UIUC Recommended/Competitive | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall | 7.0+ | Engineering departments, including Computer Science, commonly expect 7.0+ for a genuinely competitive application |
| TOEFL iBT | 79 overall | 103 | Several engineering departments publish an internal expectation around 103 — considerably above the bare 79 floor |
| Duolingo English Test | Accepted | — | Specific minimum not separately published |
For the full breakdown of IELTS and TOEFL requirements across UIUC's colleges, including Grainger Engineering and the Siebel School specifically, see Gabble's dedicated guides: UIUC IELTS Requirements and UIUC TOEFL Requirements.
UIUC's waiver policy exempts applicants who completed at least two years of full-time study, or a graduate degree, in a country where English is the primary language of instruction within five years of enrollment — confirm eligibility directly with the Graduate College. Scores are valid for 2 years.
Career Outcomes
UIUC does not publish MS Computer Science-specific employment-rate or average-starting-salary figures in this dataset's source material, but its graduate-level recruiter data and research reputation offer a strong general signal:
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Top graduate recruiters (UIUC-wide) | Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, McKinsey & Company, Boeing |
| Global CS ranking | 19th worldwide for Computer Science (Times Higher Education by Subject, 2026) |
| Notable alumni | Marc Andreessen (co-author of the Mosaic web browser, Netscape co-founder, BS Computer Science); Max Levchin (PayPal and Affirm co-founder, BS Mathematics/Computer Science) |
UIUC's Computer Science program has an outsized reputation in Silicon Valley recruiting relative to its status as a public university, driven by its deep historical research lineage (ILLIAC, Mosaic) and consistent top-20 global rankings — MS CS graduates are heavily recruited by major technology companies alongside a strong presence in aerospace and defense engineering (reflected in Boeing's appearance among top recruiters).
FAQ
Does UIUC publish an official acceptance rate for MS in Computer Science? No. UIUC does not publish an aggregate graduate acceptance rate — admission is decided independently by each department. UIUC's own published undergraduate Computer Science admit rate (~7% of first-choice applicants within Grainger Engineering) is a strong signal that the graduate MS CS program is similarly highly selective, but this is an informed estimate, not an official graduate figure.
Is the GRE required for UIUC's MS in Computer Science? Generally no — UIUC's source data confirms many engineering and computing graduate programs, including Computer Science, have dropped the GRE requirement in recent years. Always confirm current-cycle policy directly with the Siebel School.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I actually need for UIUC Computer Science? UIUC's published Graduate College minimum (6.5 IELTS / 79 TOEFL) is a bare eligibility floor. For Computer Science specifically, aim for IELTS 7.0+ or TOEFL 103, which UIUC's own data cites as the departmental expectation for engineering programs. See Gabble's UIUC IELTS and UIUC TOEFL guides for the full breakdown.
How much does UIUC's MS in Computer Science cost? UIUC does not publish one consolidated graduate tuition figure. Grainger Engineering (home to Computer Science) charges a differential tuition rate higher than UIUC's Base Rate — confirm the current MS CS-specific rate directly with the Siebel School.
Is funding available for MS Computer Science students? UIUC's PhD students are commonly funded through teaching and research assistantships covering tuition, fees, and a stipend. This funding is generally not guaranteed for terminal MS students, most of whom self-fund, consistent with most professional CS master's programs.
What makes UIUC's Computer Science program distinctive? Its historic research lineage — including the ILLIAC computers and the original Mosaic web browser — combined with a consistent top-20 global ranking (19th, Times Higher Education by Subject) and one of the largest, most established computing research faculties of any US public university.