About

Building upon a proud legacy stretching back to the 1940s, Illinois Computer Science stands today at the forefront of computing innovation. Collectively, our alumni and faculty have birthed entirely new industries, generated billions of dollars in commerce, created tens of thousands of jobs, and revolutionized the way that people communicate, shop, conduct business, and are entertained. For just some of this amazing story, please see the CS History Timeline.

#5

Undergraduate Computer Science Program, ranked in 2020 by U.S. News & World Report

120+

Full-time Faculty Members

44

NSF Career Award Winners

#5

Graduate Computer Science Program, ranked in 2018 by U.S. News & World Report

AWARDS
The students, faculty, and alumni of our department are changing the world through their contributions to the computing industry and to research. These awards received by members of the Illinois Computer Science family clearly show our faculty, students, and alumni are among the best in the world.

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ACCREDITATION
Illinois Computer Science has historically educated some of the finest minds and visionaries in the field of computer science. Following this tradition, we provide our students the intellectual tools that will enable them to keep pace with the ever-changing world of Computer Science.

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Siebel Center

Dedicated in 2004, the Thomas M. Siebel Center for Computer Science is the home for the Department of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It was made possible by a generous gift from Thomas M. Siebel (MS CS ’85), with additional funding from the State of Illinois and the University of Illinois.

The Siebel Center houses more than 225,000 square feet of classrooms, laboratories, and offices. Since it opened its doors, thousands of students have benefited from the educational and research endeavors within its walls.

Architect

Architect Peter Bohlin of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson designed the Siebel Center as a vibrant space that encourages collaboration. Open areas, pervaded by natural light, and informal meeting places sprinkled throughout provide ample opportunities for people to encounter each other. Brick, slate, copper, and glass were used to construct a traditional south-facing exterior to harmonize with the surrounding buildings and a modern north face to reflect the cutting edge activities within. Private offices, quiet spaces, research and instructional labs, classrooms, seminar and conference rooms, a 200-seat auditorium, and a coffee shop fill the interior.

Community matters

Living in C-U
C-U. We’re not like any other cities. We say that’s our best feature. With a small-town feel and urban perks, you will find a place with a vibrant community, a relaxed lifestyle, and a 6,370-acre campus nestled between the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana.

Experience Champaign-Urbana

By the numbers
Champaign & Urbana: 1,008 mi²
Population: 130,000+
Elevation: 227 meters (746 feet)
Average commute: 15.7 minutes
Yearly transit rides: 11,000,000+
Tree cities since 1985 (Urbana) & 1976 (Champaign)

Arts are big here.
From museums to a world-class performing arts center, savor a symphony, experience experimental theater, see cutting-edge dance, or take in the scene at a county-wide arts celebration.

Enjoy the music.
Catch diverse live music nightly at local venues. Hear internationally renowned musicians at festivals showcasing guitar, indie rock, blues, classical, folk, and roots music.

See it on the big screen.
Watch movies on the Quad, in a pool, or a IMAX theater. Be inspired at film festivals starring insects and dancers, featuring cinematic gems and independent movies.

Pick local. Eat Local.
An active caffeine scene will keep you moving through farmer’s markets overflowing with locally grown produce. Relish farm-to-fork eateries, enjoy global cuisine, or grab-and-go from a wide selection of food trucks. Pair it with local craft microbrews.

A red milk carton attached to a bike for use as a basket decorated with a rainbow and red roses is parked on the main quad.

Go where you want.
Students have access to unlimited public transportation. Discover local shops in walkable historic downtowns, use bike sharing on tree-lined, cycle-friendly streets, or get a lift using rideshare or car sharing.

Activities for everyone.
Go vertical on a wall, flow in yoga, defy gravity on a pole, scale indoor boulders, hike amid soaring prairie plants, try your hand at disc golf, break out of an escape room, be tested at trivia nights, train with a group to run a marathon or pedal for pleasure on a railbed converted into a recreational prairie trail.

Families can play here.
Get cheap seats to Big Ten NCAA games, plunge into a pool, skate in the ice arena, visit bees at a pollinatarium, pet baby goats, or pick pumpkins, apples, and blueberries at nearby farms.

Celebrate the seasons.
Attend community corn festivals, Oktoberfests, county fairs, maker fests, craft shows, and mistletoe markets.

All are welcome.
An accessible, diverse community with a large international population thrives in these not-too-busy and not-too-quiet twin cities.