University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the largest University in the Illinois system but is not the flagship school. The University of Illinois was founded in 1867 and has an undergraduate enrollment of 30,909 as of the fall of 2006. The campus is very much a huge part of the city of Urbana-Champaign as it seems everywhere you go is considered on-campus.

Illinois was rated as the 41st school overall and the 10th best public institution in the US News and World Report. Many of their degree programs are highly ranked nationally. These programs include both undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Their undergraduate program for engineering is ranked 4th nationally and the graduate program is 5th overall. The College of Business also ranks well as it ranks 13th for undergraduate studies and 28th nationally for their graduate degree programs.

The University of Illinois also ranks well for their Music and Fine Arts Masters programs as they rank in the top 25 and 6th respectively.

Not known for its football prowess, the "Illini" have a number of great college football players to its credit. Fred "Red" Grange is considered by many to be the greatest college offensive player. Dick Butkus also played football at Illinois and an award in his name is given to the nation's top linebacker.

Basketball is what the school goes crazy for as of late. The "Fightin Illini" have won 4 of the last 7 Big Ten titles and have a National Runner-up to their credit in 2005.

Any field you choose to go into the University of Illinois can prepare with all the knowledge necessary to succeed.