The BS in Statistics and Data Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is taught through the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, the same school that houses UIUC's globally ranked Computer Science major. UIUC is a large public land-grant research university about 140 miles south of Chicago, and it accepts the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or its own MyIllini application, with SAT/ACT scores optional rather than required. For applicants drawn to data-heavy careers but weighing options against a pure Computer Science major, Statistics and Data Science offers the same Siebel School research environment and recruiter access with a curriculum built specifically around statistical methods and applied data analysis.
Acceptance Rate: What UIUC Actually Publishes
UIUC does not publish a separate acceptance rate for the Statistics and Data Science major. What we know, grounded in UIUC's own data:
- UIUC overall reports a 36.6% first-choice admit rate for Fall 2025, its own published, university-wide figure
- Admit rates vary hugely by first-choice major within that overall number: Computer Science within the Siebel School and Grainger Engineering is understood to admit only around 7% of first-choice applicants, one of the hardest single majors to get into at any US public university, while less oversubscribed majors like Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences run closer to 48%
- Statistics and Data Science sits within the same competitive Siebel School as Computer Science, so it is reasonable to expect a first-choice admit rate meaningfully below the 36.6% university-wide figure, but UIUC does not publish a major-specific number for Statistics and Data Science, and there is no basis to assume it sits as low as Computer Science's roughly 7%, since Statistics and Data Science is a distinct, less oversubscribed major within the same school
Bottom line: treat 36.6% as a clearly labeled university-wide floor, not a Statistics and Data Science-specific figure. The realistic expectation is a program that is more selective than UIUC's overall average, given its home in the Siebel School, but not documented anywhere near Computer Science's extreme selectivity.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
UIUC does not publish a course-specific tuition figure for Statistics and Data Science; the figures below use UIUC's official 2026-27 international undergraduate cost of attendance at the Base Rate tuition tier, which applies broadly across UIUC's colleges before any differential tuition surcharge:
| Cost Item | Amount (USD/year) |
|---|---|
| Tuition + mandatory fees (Base Rate, international) | $42,248 |
| Food and housing | $15,858 |
| Books, supplies, and other expenses | $4,040 |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | $62,146 |
Illinois-resident tuition and fees are considerably lower, at $18,048/year, but this does not apply to most Gabble readers. Importantly, Gies College of Business and Grainger College of Engineering charge a higher differential tuition than the Base Rate figure above (up to roughly $47,800 total for 2026-27). UIUC's cost profile does not confirm whether the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, home to Statistics and Data Science, charges a similar differential surcharge; computing-related colleges at peer universities often do, so verify the exact current Siebel School rate on UIUC's official cost calculator before budgeting, rather than assuming the Base Rate figure applies. UIUC's undergraduate application fee is $75.
Admission Requirements
UIUC undergraduate admission runs through the Common Application, Coalition Application, or UIUC's own MyIllini application, with the same core requirements applying across majors, plus program-specific supplements for the Siebel School:
- Common Application, Coalition Application, or MyIllini Application
- Official secondary school transcripts
- SAT or ACT scores, test-optional, not required for admission
- TOEFL iBT (79+), IELTS Academic (6.5+), or Duolingo scores for applicants who don't qualify for a waiver
- Program-specific supplemental essays, required for Siebel School of Computing and Data Science applicants, including Statistics and Data Science
UIUC offers two Fall intake rounds: Early Action (November 1 deadline, January 29 decision) and Regular Decision (January 5 deadline, February 26 decision). Early Action does not carry a binding commitment the way Early Decision does at some other US universities, so there is little downside to applying early if your application is ready.
How to Get Into UIUC's Statistics and Data Science Program
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Write a supplemental essay genuinely focused on data and statistics, not a generic "I like computers" pitch. Siebel School applicants are evaluated on program-specific supplements, and specificity about statistical methods, applied data projects, or research interests stands out more than broad enthusiasm for computing.
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Apply Early Action if your application is ready by November 1. It carries no binding commitment, gives you a decision by late January, and demonstrates genuine interest without the risk that comes with a binding Early Decision plan elsewhere.
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Don't assume the university-wide 36.6% admit rate applies to your major. Siebel School majors, including Statistics and Data Science, are understood to be meaningfully more competitive than UIUC's overall average, so build an application accordingly rather than treating this as an easy admit relative to Computer Science.
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Submit SAT/ACT scores only if they strengthen your file. UIUC is test-optional, and a strong quantitative score can be a useful supplementary signal for a statistics-heavy major, but a weak score is better left out entirely.
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Clear the TOEFL/IELTS eligibility floor comfortably, not at the bare minimum. UIUC's published 79 TOEFL / 6.5 IELTS figures are eligibility floors, not competitive targets, and Siebel School applicants in particular should aim well above them.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
UIUC sets one university-wide undergraduate English-proficiency floor that applies to all majors, including Statistics and Data Science:
- IELTS: minimum 6.5 overall; recommended 7.0. This is a bare eligibility floor, not a competitive target, and the Siebel School in particular is commonly understood to expect scores well above the university-wide minimum
- TOEFL: minimum 79 overall (for tests taken before ETS's January 2026 rescale); recommended 100+
- Duolingo English Test: accepted as an alternative
- Waiver: applicants who have completed at least two years of full-time study in a country where English is the primary language, or a degree at such an institution within a recent window, are generally exempt
Because Siebel School programs draw a strong, quantitative applicant pool, admissions committees have limited bandwidth to weigh a borderline English score against a strong technical profile. For the full breakdown of UIUC's testing policy, see UIUC IELTS requirements and UIUC TOEFL requirements.
Career Outcomes
UIUC does not publish outcomes broken out specifically for the BS in Statistics and Data Science, but the university's broader undergraduate recruiter data gives a strong proxy, since data-focused graduates from the Siebel School are recruited by many of the same employers as Computer Science graduates:
- Top recruiters (university-wide undergraduate): Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Deloitte, and John Deere, a mix reflecting both UIUC's strong tech pipeline and its land-grant agricultural and industrial research roots
- Graduate employment rate and average starting salary: not published specifically for this major or at the university-wide undergraduate level in UIUC's current data
Statistics and Data Science graduates from the Siebel School benefit from the same brand recognition and recruiter relationships that make UIUC's Computer Science program one of the most heavily recruited in the country, with the added draw of a curriculum built specifically for data analytics, statistical modeling, and applied machine learning roles rather than general software engineering.
FAQ
Does UIUC publish a separate acceptance rate for Statistics and Data Science? No. UIUC publishes a 36.6% university-wide first-choice admit rate for Fall 2025, and confirms that admit rates vary hugely by major (Computer Science around 7%, Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences around 48%), but does not publish a specific figure for Statistics and Data Science.
Is the SAT or ACT required for UIUC's Statistics and Data Science program? No. UIUC is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores can be submitted and considered if you believe they strengthen your application, but they are not required for admission.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for UIUC? UIUC's published university-wide minimum is TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS Academic 6.5. This is a bare eligibility floor rather than a competitive target, applicants to Siebel School programs should aim for TOEFL 100+ or IELTS 7.0+.
How much does UIUC's Statistics and Data Science program cost? Using UIUC's Base Rate international cost of attendance, tuition and fees run $42,248/year, with a total cost of attendance around $62,146/year. Computing-related colleges sometimes charge a higher differential tuition than the Base Rate, so confirm the exact Siebel School figure directly with UIUC.
Does UIUC require supplemental essays for this major? Yes. Siebel School of Computing and Data Science applicants, including those applying to Statistics and Data Science, submit program-specific supplemental essays alongside the standard application.
Will I need to attend a visa interview to study at UIUC? Yes. As a US institution, UIUC issues an F-1 Form I-20 through its International Student and Scholar Services office, and admitted international students must attend an in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate as part of the standard F-1 visa process.