Skip to Main Content
College

Illinois State University

#3 in Top Public Universities in Illinois
  • B+
    Overall Grade
  • 4 Year
  • Normal, IL
  • 2,639 reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Academics
    B
  2. Value
    A
  3. Diversity
    B+
  4. Campus
    A-
  5. Athletics
    A-
  6. Party Scene
    A
  7. Professors
    B
  8. Location
    B+
  9. Dorms
    B
  10. Campus Food
    A-
  11. Student Life
    A-
  12. Safety
    C+
View Full Report Card
Illinois State is an above-average public university located in Normal, Illinois. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 17,456 undergraduate students. The Illinois State acceptance rate is 89%. Popular majors include Elementary Education, Marketing, and Finance. Graduating 72% of students, Illinois State alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $37,500.
About Illinois State University...
Athletic Division
NCAA Division I-FCS
Athletic Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
Address
100 N University St.
Normal, IL 61761
Website
illinoisstate.edu

Illinois State University Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
89%
Application Deadline
Rolling Admissions
SAT Range
—
ACT Range
21-26
Application Fee
$50
SAT/ACT
Required
High School GPA
Required
Early Decision/Early Action
No
Improve Your SAT/ACT Scores with Test Prep

Cost

Net Price
$18,415/ year
National
$15,523
Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Net Price by Household Income
  • <$30k
    $13,110/ year
  • $30-48k
    $14,783/ year
  • $49-75k
    $20,682/ year
  • $76-110k
    $24,959/ year
  • $110k+
    $25,671/ year
Student Loan Options from Lenders
Learn More
  • Rates starting at 3.97% APR + 1% Cash Back
  • No application, origination or disbursement fees
Niche may be compensated by the third party lenders and others who place ads on the website. Niche is not a lender and does not endorse the products of these advertisers. Fees that Niche receives for ads do not affect the terms you may be offered by the lender you choose. There are many additional borrowing options available.

Academics

Professors
B
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
18:1
Evening Degree Programs
No
81%
of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.165 responses
59%
of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.167 responses
60%
of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.167 responses

Majors

Most Popular Majors
  • Elementary Education
    303 Graduates
  • Marketing
    230 Graduates
  • Finance
    226 Graduates
  • Nursing
    199 Graduates
  • Accounting
    193 Graduates
  • Management Sciences and Information Systems
    187 Graduates
  • Criminal Justice and Safety Studies
    177 Graduates
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities
    155 Graduates
  • Special Education and Teaching
    153 Graduates
  • Communications
    147 Graduates

Students

Full-Time Enrollment
17,456Undergrads
Undergrads Over 25
3%
Pell Grant
30%
Varsity Athletes
3%
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
Based on 118 responses
Report
  • Hardworking but fun
    38%
  • Average
    16%
  • Chill
    12%
  • Sociable
    11%
  • Unique
    8%
  • Hangover
    4%
  • Bro
    3%

Campus Life

Freshmen Live On-Campus
—
Poll
61%
of students say that Greek life is average, and no one will treat you differently if you don't join.212 responses
Poll
51%
of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.251 responses
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes your school?
Based on 126 responses
Report
  • Friendly and comfortable
    41%
  • Big school, with a small school feel
    38%
  • Wannabe Party with brutal cops
    6%
  • Public and easy to get into. Drug/Party mania.
    5%
  • Easy to get in, hard to stay in.
    4%
  • Friendly and comfortable, but small
    4%
  • Brutal cops. Small with a big feel. Challenging.
    2%

After College

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$45,500/ year
National
$33,028
Graduation Rate
72%
National
49%
Employed 2 Years After Graduation
96%
National
83%
83%
of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.113 responses
Colleges like Illinois State University
More

Illinois State University Reviews

2,639 reviews
All Categories
I attended high school in a very small tow. There was no diversity whatsoever & the town itself had very little to offer. I appreciate ISU for it's diversity & student life. They offer clubs for anything imaginable & there is always something to do on campus. The professors have all been very helpful & I also have appreciated the guidance I received from my student counselors. The town itself is always active with great shopping & local restaurants. I have always felt safe on the campus & have witnessed a strong security presence when walking on campus in the evenings. I am beyond thrilled with my decision to attend ISU!
Start Your Review of Illinois State University
Rate It!
I like the layout of Illinois State University. Everything you need is literally walking-distance away. Classroom sizes are small, so you don't feel lost or like a "number" amongst hundreds. The teachers are outstanding, and push you to challenge yourself. I am a Physics Education major, so my classes are very difficult. That being said, I still have confidence in them because I know I will be able to connect with my professors with ease should I need their help. I wouldn't change anything at all about Illinois State University. I love it!
I absolutely love it here! It's so easy to make friends because of how lively the quad is and how many activities there are. Classes can be hard, but all the teachers give you as many resources as they can to help, no matter how big the lecture is. The doorms are friendly and the RAs do their best to make the living space tolerable. The only downside to me would be the food at the dining hall. It's not bad, but can sometimes have a repetitive food selection.