Not sure about UIUC, but $3600 in in-state tuition for Purdue in 1999; ~$10k including room/board/books. Out of state was $8k more.

Purdue froze the in-state tuition at $10k some years ago, but did so by reducing the number of in-state students that were admitted; they need far more out-of-state (and out-of-country) students to subsidize that each year.

I worked 20 hrs a week steadily while getting my degree and it was pretty difficult. Working full time would be super hard. You would also miss a lot of the other benefits of the school because you’d be at work all the time. If someone could work part time and graduate with a minor amount of debt, that would be far better IMO.

I wouldn't wish having to work full-time while doing undergrad on anybody.