What's the GPA requirement for U of I?

Guys, I need some advice, the U of I has caught my eye but I'm a bit lost on their GPA requirements. Does anyone have an idea on what's the average incoming freshman GPA they're looking for? Are these requirements strict or are there ways to make up for a slightly lower GPA?

The University of Illinois, or U of I, doesn't have a specified, cut-and-dry GPA requirement for admission. However, the university does release data on the profiles of admitted students, and this can give you a general guideline for where you should be aiming. For the freshman class of 2028, the middle 50% of accepted students had an unweighted GPA between 3.65-4.00.

That being said, a holistic review of applications is conducted, where alongside your GPA, other elements such as your extracurriculars, coursework rigor, letters of recommendation, and personal essay play a vital role in the admission decision. So while GPA is important, a slightly lower GPA can be offset by strength in these other areas.

For example, if you have a rigorous course load with advanced classes, like APs, this could potentially strengthen your application even with a slightly lower GPA. Similarly, well-written essays that clearly demonstrate your interest in U of I and effectively highlight your unique strengths could also help.

In the end, it's about presenting a compelling overall profile that demonstrates your ability and readiness to succeed at the University of Illinois. That said, if you feel your GPA is a weak spot, I would recommend working to improve it if possible, as it's one of the primary academic factors colleges consider.