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Normal , IL
Illinois State University (ISU) is a comprehensive public university located in Normal, Illinois. Established in 1857, ISU is the oldest public higher education institution in the state. With a sprawling 490-acre campus, the university offers a diverse range of academic programs and fields of study across its six colleges.
ISU is renowned for its strong academic reputation, offering over 160 undergraduate majors and 100 graduate programs, including professional degrees in education, business, and nursing. The university is consistently ranked among the top public universities in the Midwest. ISU prides itself on fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for its students, promoting intellectual growth, personal development, and social responsibility.
Apart from its academic excellence, ISU provides countless opportunities for students to engage in extracurricular activities. The campus hosts over 400 registered student organizations, covering a wide range of interests and passions. Students can participate in clubs, intramural sports, cultural organizations, and volunteer opportunities. The university also encourages students to explore leadership roles and develop essential skills outside the classroom.
Overall, Illinois State University offers a dynamic and well-rounded educational experience, combining rigorous academic programs, a vibrant campus life, and a commitment to student success. With its well-established reputation and strong community-focused approach, ISU continues to attract students from all over the country, providing them with a supportive and enriching environment to pursue their academic and personal goals.
Located in Normal, IL and set in an urban environment, Illinois State University is a public university. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 88%. The freshman retention rate at Illinois State University is 81.44% and the six-year graduation rate is 65%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is April 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is May 1.
Here are some current data on important things to consider about Illinois State University.
Quick Facts
19,107
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
20:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
65%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Here are the most vital information you need to know about admission at Illinois State University.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 19,017 in 2025. Illinois State University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant chooses to submit them.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 43.69% and ACT scores 7.54%. 3.58% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 25.27% between 1,200 and 1,399, 49.68% between 1,000 and 1,199, 18.43% of the students between 800 and 999, 2.99% between 600 and 799, and 0.05% of the students between 400 and 599. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 13.31, 43.34 between 24-29, 38.39 in the range between 18-23, and 4.95 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 24 and the average GPA was 3.62. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission, as well as an above-average ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 557 and an average SAT Math score of 540.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by April 1. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is May 1.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
The freshman retention rate for Illinois State University was 81.44% in 2025, a testament to the outstanding educational experience provided by this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 65%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better idea of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Illinois State University in 2025 was 21,546.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 2.88. There was a total of 19,107 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 158 international students. 1,788 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 8,211 male and 11,093 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 493 Asian students and 2,596 Afro-American students in 2025. 2,720 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 778 as multirace. The school also had 11 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 15 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 147 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Illinois State University.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Illinois State University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $12,066. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $24,132. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $24,132, as well. Full-time students in 2025 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $4,086.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $24,132 | $4,086 | $28,218 |
| In-State | $12,066 | $4,086 | $16,152 |
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to consider is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $830.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Illinois State University was $12,382 in 2025. If you only wanted a dorm room, it cost $6,178 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 12,066 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,382 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 830 |
| Total Expense | $ 25,278 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial aid can be a great deal for many students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at Illinois State University.
According to the most recent data, 2,876 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $16,174 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
6,264 students were given some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Illinois State University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 10,907. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $35,856,333, and state $54,275,248. The students of Illinois State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $44,152,291, and external in the amount of $3,010,590.
$4,264
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
8,210 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 2,694 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $35,856,333 while the state aid is $1,094,211. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $21,229,350. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $2,025,907 USD.
Majors
Faculty
20:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Illinois State University was 20:1: that means 20 students per one teacher. According to the most recent information, there are 1,285 teachers at this school. This number included 572 male and 713 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Illinois State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some information about social life at Illinois State University.
Its campus is 1,180 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
There are 468 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. This number includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 4.43 and female students 7.29. If you are interested in music, you can join the Illinois State University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. You have a passion for media and communication? Illinois State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Illinois State University offers a number of services necessary for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Illinois State University.
All in all, campus life at Illinois State University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Illinois State University.
Career Counselling
At Illinois State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career.
Job Placement
Being aware of the projected salary upon finishing your studies can be important in determining if a specific school is in line with your career ambitions.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this institution is 55,276 USD.
$55,276
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL.
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Illinois State University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Illinois State University is 88%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Illinois State University is 81.44%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.