University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign – Full Review

Overview

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a public research university located in Urbana and Champaign, Illinois, United States. It is the flagship institution of the University of Illinois System and a member of the Association of American Universities.

History

UIUC was founded in 1867 as the Illinois Industrial University. It was established as a land-grant institution under the Morrill Act of 1862 to provide educational opportunities in agriculture, mechanical arts, and military science. The university underwent several name changes before settling on its current name in 1982.

Organization

UIUC is organized into 16 colleges and schools, including the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences; the College of Applied Health Sciences; the College of Business; the College of Education; the College of Engineering; the College of Fine and Applied Arts; the College of Law; the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; the School of Information Sciences; and the Graduate College.

Campus

The UIUC campus covers 6,370 acres and includes over 200 buildings. It is located in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign in central Illinois. The campus features a mix of architectural styles, from the stately neo-Gothic buildings of the older quad to the modernist designs of the South Campus.

Academics

UIUC offers more than 150 undergraduate and 100 graduate degree programs across a wide range of fields, including business, engineering, education, agriculture, humanities, and fine arts. The university is ranked among the top public universities in the country and is home to numerous research centers and institutes.

Colleges and schools

• College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences
• College of Applied Health Sciences
• College of Business
• College of Education
• College of Engineering
• College of Fine and Applied Arts
• College of Law
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• School of Information Sciences
• Graduate College

Student life

UIUC has a vibrant campus life, with over 1,000 student organizations and clubs catering to a diverse array of interests. The university hosts numerous cultural events and performances throughout the year, including music, theater, and dance. The campus is also home to several museums, including the Krannert Art Museum and the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures.

Athletics

UIUC is a member of the Big Ten Conference and fields 21 varsity sports teams, known as the Fighting Illini. The university has a strong tradition in basketball, football, and wrestling, and has won multiple NCAA championships in these sports.

Notable alumni

UIUC has produced many notable alumni, including Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry, and economics, Pulitzer Prize winners, and astronauts. Some of the university’s most famous alumni include actors Hugh Hefner and Nick Offerman, former U.S. Secretaries of Defense William Cohen and Robert Gates, and former PayPal CEO Dan Schulman.

University Profile