Illinois identity graphic

Campus Location

The location of your college is another very important factor. You have many options:

  • close enough to your hometown to commute
  • far enough to fly to campus
  • college town
  • large metropolitan city
  • rural area

There are pros and cons to each type of college community that differ from the perspectives of each student. If you are looking for a traditional college experience, you may find that a university in a college town is the best fit.

The Illinois Advantage

The University of Illinois is located in a college town, Champaign-Urbana. The town is centrally located between three major US cities: Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. Champaign-Urbana is home to more than 100,000 local residents, in addition to the University student body. Due to the University's global awareness and attitude, C-U residents have options typically not found in cities of similar size, such as ethnic restaurants, concerts, Broadway plays, art shows, and much more.