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Apr 30, 2025

Champaign, Illinois

When deciding where to study abroad in the United States, there is a lot to consider. You’ll want to find a city with affordable housing options, a thriving culture and entertainment scene and, of course, world class educational opportunities. One city that fits this description perfectly is Champaign, Illinois, part of the Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area.

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Downtown Champaign at night

So, what makes this city so spectacular and why is it a perfect fit for students? Here’s a closer look at Champaign.

All about Champaign

Champaign is one of three counties that make up Champaign-Urbana, a metropolitan area with more than 250,000 residents. Founded in 1855, the city of Champaign today boasts a diverse culture and great educational opportunities, including one of the nation’s most renowned universities – the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Photo courtesy of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.)

The city is also known for its thriving economy, including a large technology and software industry. The Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign first started in 1999 and today consists of a flourishing business community, offering resources and opportunities for students to get real-world experience with some of the nation’s leading technology companies.

Take a tour

Champaign also provides students with an abundance of cultural and recreational offerings. The city is the home to several parks, theaters and multiple museums, including the Krannert Art Museum and Champaign County Historical Museum.

At the Krannert Art Museum

The Krannert Art Museum, located on the campus of the University of Illinois, contains more than 10,000 pieces of art, featuring the works of professionals, as well as art from faculty and students of the university. The Champaign County Historical Museum hosts a collection of artifacts that relate directly to the rich history of the city. Its current building was constructed in 1857, making it the oldest documented commercial structure in Champaign County.

Cheering on the Fighting Illini (Photo courtesy of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.)

Catch a game

Sports also play a major role in the city. Champaign is the home to the Fighting Illini, the beloved sports teams of the University of Illinois. American football and basketball are two of the more popular sports programs, with a total of six national championships and attracting millions of fans from around the country to their games throughout the year. On Saturdays during football season, Memorial Stadium is one of the loudest venues in the country, holding more than 60,000 fans cheering on the Fighting Illini.

International students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Photo courtesy of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.)

Earning your degree

The education you receive studying in the United States will be the most important part of your experience. Champaign, Illinois, has two schools of higher education – the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Parkland College. The University of Illinois offers more than 150 programs from 17 colleges of study and has an enrolment of approximately 44,000 students. The university is well known for its engineering and science programs, and was ranked as the seventh best research university in America by Forbes.

The town of Champaign gets lots of snow! (Photo courtesy of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.)

Moving in

One of the more difficult parts of moving to a new city is finding your new home. If you are looking for an affordable apartment in Champaign, ApartmentSearch.com is a great resource to use. The tool allows you to search for an apartment in your ideal location, while also providing information on the cost of living, local restaurants, the length of your commute and more. If your apartment is unfurnished, furniture rental is an economical and hassle-free way to furnish your home. CORT, the leading provider of furniture rental in the U.S., furnishes thousands of student apartments with everything from beds and sofas to housewares and electronics – all with affordable rental package options.

Making the move to the United States is a big step for anyone. That’s why it’s important to take the time to think about your interests and expectations for the city you will move to. If you are looking for a city with incredible offerings in educations, culture and entertainment, Champaign, Illinois, may be the perfect fit for you.