University of Illinois System approves tuition increase for incoming freshmen

Friday, 16 January 2026

Incoming college students across Illinois will pay slightly higher tuition beginning in the fall of 2026, following action by the University of Illinois System Board of Trustees.

The board approved a two percent tuition increase for Illinois resident undergraduate students entering their freshman year. University officials say the modest increase is intended to offset rising inflation and operating costs while maintaining access and affordability for Illinois families.

Tuition rates for nonresident undergraduates, as well as graduate, professional, and online programs, will also increase at varying levels across the Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield campuses. University leaders note that most students continue to receive some form of financial aid, and under state law, tuition for new undergraduate students remains locked in at the same rate for four years.

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