Illinois State University

Illinois State University is a public, state school located in the suburban setting of Normal, IL

Founded in 1857, the institution currently enrolls around 20,720 students a year, including 17,987 undergrads. The institution runs on a semester academic calendar.

Illinois State University's endowment was valued at $112,668,128 in 2021.

Admissions Facts About Illinois State University

Acceptance rate: 81%

Average GPA: 3.48

Mean ACT score: 23

Mean SAT score: 1116

Early Decision or Early Action: No/No

2022 Regular Decision Deadline: April 1

2022 Regular Decision Notification Date: September 1

Illinois State University Acceptance Rate

It is minimally difficult to get into Illinois State University. The acceptance rate at Illinois State University is 81 percent.

The average high school GPA for a student at Illinois State University is 3.48 on a 4.0 scale. The mean SAT scores for students who get into Illinois State University is 1116. The mean ACT scores is 23.

In 2021, 0 applicants were waitlisted and 0 waitlisted students got accepted.

Is Illinois State University a good school?

The definition of a "good school" is different for different people. Acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how competitive an institution 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.

Retention, graduation, and job placement statistics all give valuable information about the quality of the student experience, before and after graduation.

Retention and graduation rates

Out of the 3,581 students who started at Illinois State University as first-time freshman, 1,793 graduate within four years.

Around 68 percent of students who started at Illinois State University earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61 percent for public schools, and 67 percent for private, non-profit schools.

Job outcomes and student debt

Job placement rates after graduation, average starting salaries, and the debt students graduate with can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school. Students in the class of 2021 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $30,588 of debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

Based on this information, how does Illinois State University sound? Remember, the best school for one person may not be the right school for someone else! So the real question to ask yourself: is Illinois State University a good school for YOU?

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All applicants will receive an admissions decision by September 1.

Read on to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics and majors and more. Or, visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Illinois State University and get personalized recommendations for other colleges that might be perfect for you.