UIUC's Impact Ranking
#42
Times Higher Education Impact Ranking 2025
UIUC's Avg Impact Score
88.4
Overall institutional score out of 100
Total Research Publications
1,775
Sustainability-related publications
Ranking Improvement
+6
Change in THE Impact Ranking (year-over-year)
Top 3 SDGs for UIUC
Highest-performing sustainability goals by institutional score
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 7: Affordable & Clean Energy
Funding Comparison
2024 total funding by campus & UIUC funding sources breakdown
Campus Funding (2024)
UIUC Funding Sources (2024)
FAQs
How is UIUC's Impact Ranking calculated?
The ranking combines research influence, outreach outcomes, and SDG-aligned institutional impact metrics. Check out the Ranking Methodology view for more details.
What does the UIUC SDG Score represent?
It is a composite score reflecting university performance across sustainability goals, weighted by methodology.
Why compare UIUC funding with other U of I campuses?
It shows relative investment scale across the system and helps identify where UIUC leads or needs targeted support.
UIUC's Impact Ranking
#42
Times Higher Education, 2025
UIUC's Avg Impact Score
88.4
Overall institutional score out of 100
SDG Impact Comparison: UIUC vs. Top Ranking U.S. Institutions
Comparative radar chart showing UIUC's performance across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals compared to top ranking U.S. universities (ASU, MSU, Penn State, FIU)
UIUC
ASU
MSU
Penn State
FIU
Key Insights for UIUC
Recommendations for advancing UIUC's impact in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings
🎯 Strengths
UIUC excels in SDG 7 (Clean Energy), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 9 (Innovation). These research areas showcase the university's capacity for high-impact sustainability research.
📈 Growth Opportunities
Consider strategic investments in SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 12 (Consumption), and SDG 15 (Life on Land) to diversify impact areas and improve the overall ranking.
🤝 Strategic Partnerships
Leverage existing partnerships and establish new collaborations in areas where peer institutions lead. Cross-institutional research can strengthen UIUC's competitiveness.
🔬 Research Focus
Align departmental research initiatives with the 17 SDGs. The greater the proportion of research addressing SDGs, the higher the impact score and ranking advancement.
SDG Wise Ranking Criteria and Their Score Weights
THE Impact Rankings are based on four broad areas: Research, Stewardship, Outreach, and Teaching. Percentages show each criterion's weight in the THE Impact Ranking score for that SDG. They reflect how much each metric contributes to the overall assessment, not UIUC's performance. Click any card to view UIUC's simulated performance scores. For a comprehensive breakdown of the 2025 criteria, you can view the Official 2025 THE Impact Rankings Methodology (PDF) .
SDG 1
No Poverty
- Research on poverty 27%
- Proportion of students receiving financial aid 27%
- University anti-poverty programmes 23%
- Community anti-poverty programmes 23%
SDG 2
Zero Hunger
- Research on hunger 27%
- Campus food waste 15.4%
- Student hunger 19.2%
- Proportion of graduates in agriculture/aquaculture 19.2%
- National hunger 19.2%
SDG 3
Good Health and Well-being
- Research on health and well-being 27%
- Number graduating in health professions 34.6%
- Collaborations and health services 38.4%
SDG 4
Quality Education
- Research on early years and lifelong learning 27%
- Proportion of graduates with teaching qualification 15.4%
- Lifelong learning measures 26.8%
- Proportion of first-generation students 30.8%
SDG 5
Gender Equality
- Research on gender equality 27%
- Proportion of first-generation female students 15.4%
- Student access measures 15.4%
- Proportion of senior female academics 15.4%
- Proportion of women receiving degrees 11.5%
- Women's progress measures 15.3%
SDG 6
Clean Water and Sanitation
- Research on water 27%
- Water consumption per person 19%
- Water usage and care 23%
- Water reuse 12%
- Water in the community 19%
SDG 7
Affordable and Clean Energy
- Research on clean energy 27%
- University measures towards clean energy 23%
- Energy use density 17%
- Energy and the community 23%
- Low-carbon energy use 10%
SDG 8
Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Research on economic growth and employment 27%
- Employment practice 19.6%
- Expenditure per employee 15.4%
- Proportion of students taking work placements 19%
- Proportion of employees on secure contracts 19%
SDG 9
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Research on industry, innovation and infrastructure 11.6%
- Patents citing university research 15.4%
- University spin-offs 34.6%
- Research income from industry and commerce 38.4%
SDG 10
Reduced Inequalities
- Research on reduced inequalities 27%
- First-generation students 15.5%
- International students from developing countries 15.5%
- Proportion of students with disabilities 11.5%
- Proportion of employees with disabilities 11.5%
- Measures against discrimination 19%
SDG 11
Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Research on sustainable cities and communities 27%
- Support of arts and heritage 22.6%
- Expenditure on arts and heritage 15.3%
- Sustainable practices 35.1%
SDG 12
Responsible Consumption and Production
- Research on responsible consumption and production 27%
- Operational measures 26.7%
- Proportion of recycled waste 27%
- Publication of a sustainability report 19.3%
SDG 13
Climate Action
- Research on climate action 27%
- Low-carbon energy use 27%
- Environmental education measures 23%
- Commitment to carbon neutral university 23%
SDG 14
Life Below Water
- Research on life below water 27%
- Supporting aquatic ecosystems through education 15.3%
- Supporting aquatic ecosystems through action 19.4%
- Water sensitive waste disposal 19.3%
- Maintaining a local ecosystem 19%
SDG 15
Life on Land
- Research on land ecosystems 27%
- Supporting land ecosystems through education 23%
- Supporting land ecosystems through action 27%
- Land sensitive waste disposal 23%
SDG 16
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- Research on peace and justice 27%
- University governance measures 26.6%
- Academic freedom and data 23%
- Proportion of graduates in law and civil enforcement 23.2%
SDG 17
Partnerships for the Goals
- Research into partnership for the goals 27%
- SDG collaboration measures 18.5%
- Publication of SDG reports 27.2%
- Education for SDGs 18.12%