Minimum Academic Requirements for Graduate Admission
The Graduate College sets minimum requirements for full status graduate admission to the University of Illinois. Your proposed program of study may have additional or higher minimum requirements for admission into their academic programs. It is important to review their website for program admission requirement information.
The Graduate College minimum requirements for full status admission are below:
- Applicants must have earned at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college in the United States or a comparable degree from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad.
- An admission grade point average (GPA)* of 3.0 (A=4.0), or a comparable GPA for an international applicant, is a minimum requirement for admission.
- Applicants enrolled in the final year of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college in the United States or a or comparable degree program from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad, and who meet the GPA requirements stated above, will be admitted conditionally pending receipt of final academic credentials showing the undergraduate degree as conferred.
- International applicants must meet minimum requirements based on their country of origin.
*The admission GPA is calculated based on the last two years of undergraduate study. If your undergraduate study is longer than 4 years, additional semesters may be used to calculate the admission GPA.
Minimum Requirement Exceptions
A student who does not meet one or more of the minimum admission requirements:
- may qualify for limited status admission with support from the academic program and approval from the Graduate College.
- may qualify for full status admission based on a master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college in the United States or a comparable graduate degree from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad with a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 (A=4.0), or comparable GPA for an international applicant.
- may qualify for full status admission after completion of a minimum of 12 credit hours as a non-degree or graduate certificate student at the graduate level within the proposed academic major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and received a cumulative GPA that meets the department minimum for good standing.
- may qualify for full status admission with support from the academic program and approval from the Graduate College if they have completed 10+ years of professional work experience in the field corresponding to the proposed academic major.
English Proficiency Requirements for Graduate Admission
Domestic Applicants
Proof of English proficiency is not required for admission for domestic applicants.
Some domestic applicants may be required to demonstrate proof of spoken English if applying for a teaching assistantship. Please review the English proficiency requirements for teaching assistants.
International Applicants
All international degree-seeking applicants are required to submit the results of an accepted test as evidence of English proficiency unless they qualify for an exemption. Please review our additional instructions for International Applicants for the complete English Proficiency Requirements.
Defining Applicants as International or Domestic
Domestic applicants are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States, or have been granted Asylee, Refugee or Paroled in the Public Interest status by the United States government. Domestic applicants are required to submit the domestic application fee. Lawful Permanent Residents are also required to upload a copy of their Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) directly to the online application. Those with asylee, refugee or parolee status are also required to upload documentation of this status in the online application.
International applicants are citizens or permanent residents of a country to which they intend to return other than the United States. International applicants may be in the United States on an educational, worker or visitor visa, or be residing in their home country. International applicants are required to submit the international application fee. International applicants who are requesting F-1 or J-1 visa eligibility documents are also required to provide a copy of their passport and evidence of financial support.
Please note: International applicants who have filed an application for United States Permanent Residency, but have not yet been granted approval, are considered international applicants and are required to submit the international application fee and a copy of their Application Receipt Notice from USCIS to the online application.
Proposed Programs of Study
A complete list of our graduate programs is available in the Illinois Graduate Programs of Study. Each program listing will provide an overview of the program, along with admissions and degree completion requirements.
The Directory of Graduate Programs provides website and contact information for each available program. Your proposed program of study is best able to advise you throughout your application process.
Application deadlines vary by degree program and not all programs admit to all terms. Visit your proposed program of study's web site to determine the application deadline. If you apply after the posted deadline, full consideration is not guaranteed and no application fee refunds will be granted.
Many graduate programs may ask customized questions on the application, including asking for your proposed field of specialization and any potential faculty members you would want to work with. We encourage you to review faculty profiles and fields of specialization information on your proposed program's web site.
Duplicate Degree Policy
An individual should not receive another degree for work that is substantially similar to the work used to complete a previous degree. Therefore, the Graduate College will generally not allow the awarding of a second graduate degree in an area in which a graduate degree at an equivalent level (master’s or doctoral) has already been earned. This rule applies to cases where the previous degree is from this university or from another institution. Requests for exceptions may be allowed in cases where it is clear that the student’s degree programs differ significantly. These decisions are made during the process of admission to the Graduate College or when a change of curriculum is requested.
Online and Site-Based Programs
Many graduate programs are offered completely online or in a format of online with some campus visits required. Some programs are offered at site-based locations throughout Illinois. Click here for a list of online and site-based programs.
Note: I-20s will not be issued to international students admitted to online programs. International students may only enroll in online programs at the University of Illinois if they maintain a non-student visa status that allows for study, or if the student plans to remain in his/her home country for the duration of the online program.
Applying to Multiple Programs
Applicants who wish to be considered for admission to multiple programs of study should submit a separate application, application fee, and appropriate supporting materials for each graduate program. You will only need to create one online application account and can add multiple applications to this account.
Please note that your application may be considered for multiple programs if your application is not selected for admission by your original proposed program. However, many departments require an additional application to be submitted before reviewing for additional programs.
Joint Programs of Study
If applying to a joint degree program for admission, you will be required to submit two online graduate applications. Each application has program-specific application questions and upload requirements, so an individual application for each program is required. In the online application, you will be able to select a Primary Program and a Secondary Program. You'll need to submit one application with Program A as your Primary Program, and another application Program B as your Primary Program.
You application will be viewed by both academic programs, and you only need to pay one application fee. When submitting your second application, please indicate "Joint Program 2nd Application" in the Allied Agency field in the Application Fee Waiver section on the Program page.
For a complete list of joint programs available to applicants, please visit our Academic Catalog.
If applying to a joint degree program with the College of Law's JD program for admission, you will be required to submit one graduate online application and another separate application for the College of Law through their website.
Financial Assistance
Check with your proposed program of study office for any specific application deadlines to be considered for financial assistance in addition to admission. Your proposed program of study web site can also provide you with additional information about how to indicate your request for financial assistance in your online application.
Below are the primary types of financial assistance available to graduate students at Illinois:
- Fellowships. Information on fellowships is available from the Fellowship Office at the Graduate College.
- Assistantships. Assistants enrolled in most graduate programs receive a tuition and partial fee waiver, provided the appointment is for not less than one-quarter time and not more than two-thirds time, and if the assistant is on appointment for at least three-quarters (91 days) of the term. Details about tuition waivers are available from the Guide to the Tuition Waiver Policy.
- Loans (for Domestic Applicants only). For information about student loans, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Note that self-supporting and cost recovery programs may not offer these financial aid options. See a list of these programs. This list may not be complete; it is important to check with your department to find out which financial aid options are available.