After freezing resident undergraduate tuition rates in seven of the previous 11 years, the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois today approved a 2% tuition increase for Illinois resident undergraduate students admitted to the fall 2026 academic year.
The system universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield also adjusted tuition rates for nonresident undergraduate students, as well as graduate, professional and online programs.
“This modest increase in tuition will allow us to balance the rising costs we as a university system face due to inflation with our commitment to Illinois families that the world-class education we offer remains within reach,” U of I System President Tim Killeen said. “Parents and students also can continue to count on our commitment to robust financial aid and our state’s promise to lock in tuition costs for undergraduates.”
Under state law, tuition rates for new undergraduate students are held flat for four years. More than 68% of all resident undergraduate students enrolled across the U of I System receive some form of financial aid and over 51% pay less than $3,000 per semester for tuition and mandatory fees.
At Urbana-Champaign, nonresident and international undergraduate tuition will increase between 7% and 14.5%. At Chicago, most nonresident and international students will see increases of 2% to 3.3%. At Springfield, nonresident tuition will rise 2%.
A majority of graduate programs’ tuition at Urbana-Champaign and Chicago will increase 3% or less, and Springfield tuition for graduate programs will rise by up to 5%. Tuition levels for professional and online programs at the three universities will increase 4% or less, with many remaining unchanged.
Trustees also approved a 5% increase in room and board rates at Urbana-Champaign and Chicago and 3.5% at Springfield. At Urbana-Champaign, the change applies to students who are first-time residents; returning residents who have maintained continuous occupancy in the residence halls pay the same rate as their first year, for a period of up to four years.
Student fees at all three universities increased to reflect increasing operating costs. Fees increased 2.0% at Urbana-Champaign, 1.9% at Chicago and 6.8% at Springfield.
Board chairman reelected
Trustees also unanimously reelected Trustee Jesse Ruiz to serve as board chairman. Appointed to the board by Gov. JB Pritzker in 2023, Ruiz first was elected chair in January 2025.
An Urbana-Champaign alumnus in economics who also earned a degree from the University of Chicago Law School, Ruiz is partner, general counsel and chief compliance officer with The Vistria Group and was deputy governor for education from 2019-21.
President Killeen recognized
The board also recognized Killeen following his announcement last week that he will step down as president after his current contract expires on June 30, 2027.
