University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign GRE requirements (2026)
There is no single university-wide GRE rule at Illinois; each program sets its own policy. Several high-demand programs such as Computer Science and Civil & Environmental Engineering have made the GRE optional, while quantitative PhD programs like Economics still require it.
About University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public land-grant research university and the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system. Its graduate programs are administered through the Graduate College.
GRE requirement by program
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign sets its GRE policy by program, so there is rarely a single university-wide answer. Below is each program we have checked, with its status, a link to the program's own admissions page, and the date we last confirmed it.
| Program | Status | Official source | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|
Graduate College / central policy PhD and masters | Varies by program The Graduate College's minimum admission requirements page lists a bachelor's degree and a 3.0 GPA over the last two years of undergraduate study, with English-proficiency tests for international applicants. It does not impose any university-wide GRE requirement, leaving GRE policy to individual programs. | grad.illinois.edu | Jun 2026 |
Computer Science (MS, PhD) — Siebel School of Computing and Data Science MS and PhD | Optional The Siebel School graduate applications page states that the GRE General aptitude tests (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical) and subject test scores are recommended but not required, and that submitted scores may provide helpful supporting information. | siebelschool.illinois.edu | Jun 2026 |
Civil & Environmental Engineering (MS, PhD) MS and PhD | Optional The CEE graduate admissions page states that GRE test scores are currently optional for all CEE graduate school applicants. The GRE is strongly recommended for PhD applicants to support admission and funding decisions, and recommended for some MS applicants, but no minimum score is required. | cee.illinois.edu | Jun 2026 |
Economics (PhD) PhD | Required The Department of Economics PhD requirements page lists official GRE scores as a base requirement and states explicitly that the GRE cannot be waived. There is no fixed minimum, but the department notes most applicants have a quantitative score of 160 or higher. | economics.illinois.edu | Jun 2026 |
Each status was read from the program's own admissions page (last checked 20 06 2026). Policies change between cycles; always confirm on the linked official page before you apply.
Not the program you need? The status is set department by department. Use the three-step check on the is the GRE required page to confirm any program in a couple of minutes.
Should you submit a GRE score?
Where University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign marks a program Optional, a score comfortably above the program's admitted-student median can strengthen a borderline application, especially for funded or international applicants. Below that median, your effort is usually better spent on the required parts of the file. Where a program is Not accepted, do not send a score, it will not be reviewed.
Unsure where you would land? Sit a free full-length mock and convert your scaled score to its exact official percentile before you decide.