When you're getting ready to apply, you should be aware of general university requirements as well as college-specific criteria. You can also visit the university to take a tour of campus or visit ACES to get acquainted with specific departments.

If you have questions specific to the College of ACES, you can email us at aces-academics@illinois.edu. Learn more about on-campus transfers and off-campus transfers.

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Undergraduate Admissions

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions oversees all undergraduate applications to the University of Illinois.
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Graduate Admissions

The university's Graduate College oversees all graduate applications.

Admissions Process

Prospective First-year Students

Learn More 

Before you start the application process:

  • Explore the majors in the College of ACES 
  • Sign up for an info session to talk with ACES students and advisors
  • Review the requirements and learn how applications are reviewed

Apply

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions oversees all undergraduate applications to the University of Illinois.

Selecting a Major:

On the application, you will have the opportunity to select your first-choice and second-choice majors. You can apply directly into any major in the College of ACES or select ACES Undeclared as a first- or second-choice major. ACES Undeclared gives you the opportunity to explore various majors in the College of ACES before declaring a major by the end of your sophomore year.

Other parts of the application:

  • You'll provide your high school courses/grades and test scores, write an essay, and list your extracurricular activities, honors, and awards.

Deadlines

  • Application for Admission Opens: September 1
  • Priority Admission Deadline: November 1
  • Regular Admission Deadline: January 5
  • Admission Notification: January 27 for early action and March 3 for regular admission
  • Honors and Scholarship Notification: By April 1

Review Process

Many factors are considered in the admissions process, including:

  • Strength of your academic record or high school curriculum, course rigor, and grades
  • Highest ACT or SAT score
  • Experiences and interest in the major selected
  • Involvement in community, workplace, and/or school activities
  • Achievements and honors

Scholarships and Honors

Thanks to our generous alumni, corporate partners, and supporters, the College of ACES awards over $3.8 million in merit-based scholarships each year. 

As an incoming first-year student, you will automatically be considered for any College of ACES merit-based scholarships and honors based upon your application for admission.

Get more information and tips about the application and review process from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Cost and Financial Aid

The exact amount you’ll pay depends on your major, where you decide to live, the meal plan you choose, and your overall lifestyle. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions provides an estimated expenses and a cost calculator to help.

To be considered for need-based scholarships and aid, you need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can also submit a supplemental form for scholarships awarded by the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Off-campus Transfer Students

Majors

Explore majors

Dates & Deadlines

Spring:

  • Filing Period: September 15-October 15
  • Admission Notification: November/December

Fall:

  • Filing Period: January 15-April 5
  • Priority Deadline: March 1
  • Admission Notification: March/April

Transfer Student Resources & Advising

Transfer advising:

Contact us at aces-academics@illinois.edu to set up a transfer pre-advising appointment. An advisor in the College of ACES will talk through the courses you’ll need to transfer as well as recommend courses that can help you make the most of your time on campus. Pre-transfer advising can begin as early as your senior year in high school. 

Transfer handbook:

If you are interested in transferring to the College of ACES, follow the requirements listed in the handbook. 

Transfer guide:

The transfer guide can also help you discover prerequisite course and GPA requirements, plus necessary application materials for each program of study. If you are transferring from an Illinois community college, this tool lists the course equivalents from the school you are transferring from.

Transferology.com:

Transferology can help you see how the courses you have taken will transfer to the University of Illinois.

Scholarships & Honors

Thanks to our generous alumni, corporate partners and supporters, the College of ACES awards over $3.8 million in merit-based scholarships each year. 

Transfer students are eligible for our continuing student scholarships. The application for these scholarships opens in the spring. If you have applied for admission, you will be notified of the application by email.

Cost & Financial Aid

The exact amount you’ll pay depends on your major, where you decide to live, the meal plan you choose, and your overall lifestyle. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions provides an estimated expenses and a cost calculator to help.

To be considered for need-based scholarships and aid, you need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can also submit a supplemental form for scholarships awarded by the Office of Student Financial Aid.

On-campus Transfer Students

Guidelines

If you’re already a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, follow these guidelines to transfer into a College of ACES major or switch majors within the College of ACES.

In the College of ACES, intercollegiate transfer (ICT) applicants work directly with the departments. Requirements and contacts can be found on the university's Changing My Major page.

Find your academic advisor in the ACES department in which you would like to transfer. 

Department Information

Please go to the appropriate website for the major you are interested in below.  Some departments may have an application that you must complete, while others may require you to make an appointment with an advisor to discuss your interest in ICT.  Information on your department of interest can be found by visiting the website(s) below:

Processing periods:

The ACES Office of Academic Programs will process ICT forms for the upcoming semester until the 10th day of that semester.  Forms submitted after the 10th day will be processed for the following semester.

Note the deadlines above are times during which curricular changes will be processed by the College of ACES. Departments in ACES requiring an ICT application may have an earlier deadline to submit that application. It is important to check with the department of interest as early as possible to ensure all departmental and college deadlines and requirements are met