Illinois State University

Illinois State University Overview

Illinois State University is a public, state school in a suburban setting in Normal, Illinois. Illinois State University was founded in 1857 and now enrolls around 20,720 students a year, including 17,987 undergrads. Illinois State University offers housing for up to 6,303 students. Most students live in off campus housing.

There are many ways for students to get involved at Illinois State University! Love music or performing? Join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of Illinois State University's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? Illinois State University students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Thinking of pledging? Illinois State University has fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? Illinois State University has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Illinois State University on the Student Life page.

Learn more about life at Illinois State University on the Student Life page.

Mark your calendar! The final application deadline for Fall 2022 is April 1. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2022 should receive admissions decisions by September 1.

Is Illinois State University a Good School?

There is no one way to define a "good" college or university. Admissions difficulty and admitted student statistics can give you a sense of how selective a school is, but they don't say much about the quality of the education or the student experience. There are a few statistics that can give you a good idea of how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its students.

Let's take a closer look at each of these factors to get a better idea of what Illinois State University offers and if it might be the right college for you.

Illinois State University Acceptance Rate 2021

It is slightly difficult to get into Illinois State University. Around 81% of applicants get into Illinois State University each year. Out of 15,487 applications received in 2021, 12,593 students were offered admission.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Illinois State University

Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Out of all the first-year, full-time undergrads who start at Illinois State University, around 84% come back their sophomore year. Around 68% of students who started at Illinois State University earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.

Job Outlook Illinois State University Graduates

Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school.

Check with Illinois State University directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

Illinois State University's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students. As of 2021, the total market value of the school endowment was $112.7 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Illinois State University

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need. Illinois State University meets 56% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Illinois State University full-time are awarded $13,869 a year in financial aid, on average.

In 2020, students graduated with an average of $30,588 in student loans for each student with debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021

Some financial aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so don't give your money (or info!) to any website that claim you do.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Illinois State University. Based on this information, how does Illinois State University sound? Remember, the best school for one person may not be the right school for another! So ask yourself: Is Illinois State University a good school for you?

If Illinois State University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

Still Looking for Schools?

To learn more about Illinois State University, choose from the options below:

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Then use the college admissions predictor to take a data science look at your chances of getting admitted to some of the most popular colleges and universities in the U.S.

Where is Illinois State University?

Illinois State University is located in the suburban setting of Normal, Illinois.

If you want to see Illinois State University for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 55 to Normal, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Central Illinois Regional.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Illinois State University and Normal are like without leaving home.

Considering Going to School in Illinois?

See a full list of colleges in Illinois and save your favorites to your college list.