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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. The transfer application deadline is May 1.
Learn more about what Illinois State University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
19,107
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
20:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
65%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission. Here are the most relevant information you should know about admission policy and requirements at Illinois State University.
According to the newest data, this institution 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 in cases when they are submitted by the student.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those 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 average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 24 and the average GPA was 3.62. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted 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
The last day for submitting applications to Illinois State University is April 1. For transfer students, 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. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, make sure to consider the freshmen retention rate.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Illinois State University was 81.44%, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
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. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 65%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the perfect match for you. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 21,546 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 2.88. There was a total of 19,107 undergraduate students, including 158 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 1,788.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 8,211 male and 11,093 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
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. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Illinois State University.
This school had 493 Asian students and 2,596 Afro-American students in 2025. 2,720 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 778 identified with more than one race. The school also had 11 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 15 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 147 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Illinois State University? Here is what you need to know.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $12,066. Tuition fees were $24,132 for students coming from out of state. If you are an international student at Illinois State University, you should know that the 2025 tuition came to $24,132, as well. Full-time students in 2025 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $4,078.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $24,132 | $4,078 | $28,210 |
| In-State | $12,066 | $4,078 | $16,144 |
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to consider is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The estimated cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $830.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
At Illinois State University, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $11,410. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 totaled $6,178 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 12,066 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,410 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 830 |
| Total Expense | $ 24,306 |
Financial Aid
Financial help for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid you might get at Illinois State University.
According to the most recent data, 2,876 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students reached $16,174.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 6,264 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. 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 found to be 10,907. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $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 aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
8,210 students, including freshmen, received 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. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $35,856,333 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $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
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
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 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 572 men and 713 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Illinois State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Illinois State University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some information about social life at Illinois State University.
Its campus spans 1,180 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 468. That includes sororities and fraternities. 4.43 percent of male and 7.29 of female students are active in different organizations at Illinois State University. If you are interested in music, you can join the Illinois State University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. 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 provides a number of services necessary for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
This school has a health 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. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial 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 annual salary for graduates employed six months after graduation from 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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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Illinois State University is 88%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Illinois State University is 81.44%.
Contact Information
Illinois State University
North and School Streets
Campus Box 2200
Normal , IL
61790
309 438-2111
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.
