Half a step behind Michigan and neck and neck with Wisconsin among top Midwestern public universities. U of I’s strengths include business, communication, engineering, architecture, and the natural sciences. Three-quarters of the undergraduates hail from in state. Huge Greek system.

Like many of its Midwestern neighbors, the University of Illinois, which dates to 1867, has its roots in agriculture. The Morrow Plots, the oldest experimental fields in the nation, still rest symbolically in the middle of campus-and when the wind blows the wrong way, students are not-so-subtly reminded of their heritage as a farm school. Like most big, public universities, U of I has a barn full of choices, and with a strong Greek system and 1,200 clubs, social activities are more than plentiful. Homecoming weekend was invented at the University of Illinois, and whether cheering for the Illini, pledging a Greek organization, or celebrating Moms’, Dads’, or Siblings’ Weekends, students here stir up a vibrant mix of school spirit and good times. This may look and feel like a laid-back Midwestern campus, but make no mistake: Illinois’s stellar academics and learning communities are up there with any of the country’s public flagships.

Befitting the oldest land grant institution, the Illinois campus was built in farm country between the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. The flat, parklike campus was designed along a mile-long axis where trees and walkways separate stately white-columned Georgian structures made of brick. The impressive Illinois library system, the largest public university collection of its kind worldwide, makes it easier to keep up with classwork. A 225,000-square-foot computer science center and the physical education center are notable facilities. The $48 million Siebel Center for Design was completed in 2020.

Illinois has eight undergraduate colleges and one school that together offer more than 150 undergraduate programs; if none of these strike your fancy, you may design your own. The general education program includes standard distribution requirements across a range of subjects; students may fulfill some requirements by taking Grand Challenge Learning courses, interdisciplinary classes that explore three main “pathways,” or real-world challenges facing today’s society: Inequality and Cultural Understanding; Health and Wellness; and Sustainability, Energy, and the Environment.

Partially because of its size, Illinois can afford to support excellent programs across the university, including the expansion of undergraduate minors campuswide. Engineering, business, communication, social sciences, architecture, education, industrial design, and the sciences-especially biological sciences, agriculture, and veterinary medicine-get high marks from students and lots of resources from administrators. A “CS + X” degree program allows students to combine the study of computer science with one of 10 other liberal arts fields, ranging from anthropology and advertising to chemistry and crop sciences, without having to go so far as double majoring. The initiative is a way for students to demonstrate both technical competence and career-related expertise to future employers. The interdisciplinary Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology offers opportunities for undergraduate research in areas like intelligent systems and molecular science and engineering. Thirty-two percent of undergrads conduct research during their four years.

“Overall, classes are demanding,” says a senior. Freshmen and sophomores, who register last, may have trouble getting into necessary courses, but professors and academic advisors can usually help if classes you need are full, and students appreciate their dedication. Illinois has its share of stellar faculty, including Nobel laureates, National Medal of Science winners, and dozens of members of the National Academy of Sciences. “The quality of teaching is high with few exceptions,” says a psychology major. “They are truly invested in our success,” adds a senior. Even freshmen stuck in large lectures (750 seats) will find some personal attention in the associated discussion sections, led by graduate teaching assistants. Freshman Discovery Courses, seminars limited to 19 students, enable first-year students to interact closely with full professors. The Campus Honors Program includes faculty mentoring, intensive seminars, advanced sections of regular courses, and access to special resources. Twenty-four percent of undergraduates travel and study abroad, roaming 50 countries around the globe.

Seventy-four percent of Illinois undergrads are homegrown and “the school is continuously getting more diverse,” a sophomore says. Since Illinois stretches from the wealthy north suburbs of sophisticated Chicago to the unspoiled rural hills bordering Kentucky and encompasses classic farm towns as well as factory towns, students do come from multiple backgrounds and fit less into the stereotypical “Midwest” mold than one might think. African Americans make up 6 percent of the student body, Hispanics 13 percent, Asian Americans 19 percent, and multiracial students 3 percent, while international students account for 14 percent. Merit scholarships averaging $5,300 and roughly 200 athletic awards are doled out annually. The Illinois Commitment program provides free tuition and fees for four years for qualified in-state freshmen or transfer students whose family income is $67,100 or less.

Half of all undergrads live in U of I’s co-ed and single-sex residence halls, which range in size from 51 to 660 beds and are arranged in quadrangle-like groups. Some dorms are quite a hike from classrooms, veterans warn. The university offers 11 themed living/learning communities, such as WIMSE (Women in Math, Science, and Engineering) and Innovation LLC (entrepreneurship and creativity), that combine in-hall courses with specialized cocurricular activities. Each residence hall is a mini-neighborhood, with dining halls, darkrooms, libraries, music practice rooms, computers, and lounges creating a sense of community. Chefs keep the food interesting, and campus security maintains a visible presence.

Illinois claims to have the largest Greek system anywhere, with nearly 100 chapters drawing 21 percent of the men and 27 percent of the women. Illinois attracts many socially oriented students who love parties and intramural sports, which may be why the Greek influence is particularly strong. Independents don’t have to suffer boredom, though, as there are also nearly 1,200 registered student clubs and organizations, ranging from the ice hockey team to ethnic advocacy groups. “It is a big campus that likes to have a lot of fun,” a student says. Though drinking is prohibited in the dorms, many regard campus alcohol policies as a “token gesture,” a business major says. On most weekends, the Illini Union showcases bands, comedians, and hypnotists in its central café. The impressive Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, with four theaters and more than 350 annual performances, serves as the area’s cultural center, while Assembly Hall hosts national touring acts. Students get a discount at both facilities. For those who itch for the stimulation of a big city, the campus is just about equidistant from Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis, and Mardi Gras makes for a good road trip in the dead of winter.

The Division I Illini compete in the Big Ten, and men’s basketball and baseball have winning traditions. Men’s golf and gymnastics are recent conference champs, and women’s gymnastics, soccer, and softball are solid too. The intramural program is extensive, with available facilities that include 16 full-length basketball courts, five pools, 19 handball/racquetball courts, a skating rink, a baseball stadium, and the $5.1 million Atkins Tennis Center. The majority of the student body participates in recreational sports. Illinois has a strong athletic program for students with disabilities, including wheelchair basketball, which was invented at the university.

While the University of Illinois may seem mammoth to some students, don’t be scared off by this giant institution. Academic and social opportunities are incredibly diverse, and classroom sizes, while growing, are supplemented by smaller group discussions. The breadth of the programs offered combined with an active campus life makes for a well-rounded college experience, students say. “We have a great reputation, and it only grows stronger and stronger.”

-Fiske Gold