Quad

Illinois State University

Normal, ILQuad's selectivityAccessible
Known forTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Illinois State admits about 9 in 10 applicants (88%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 27% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

88%

88%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

21,573

Admitted

19,017

Yield

23%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

990–1210

8001600
ACT middle 50%

21–27

1836
Applications +41% since fall 2014 · admit rate 74% → 88%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A large campus of 19,057 undergrads, where 32% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

19.1K

undergrads · larger than 94% of colleges

Diversity index

0.55

Pell Grant

32%

about the median

First generation

30%

below the median

Midsize suburbNCAA D-I FCS · Missouri Valley ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.37 → 0.55 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Elementary Education and Teaching (6% of graduates). 19 students for every faculty member, more than at 87% of colleges. 74% of faculty are full-time. Spends $9,152 a year on instruction per student.

19 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 87% of colleges

Most popular major

Elementary Education and Teaching

6% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$111.1K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

74%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$9.2K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $21,974 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $2.3K less than the national median. The 96% who received grants paid $21,369 on average; the other 4% paid the full sticker price of $34,309 in-state / $46,374 out-of-state.

36%

$22K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $2.3K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$34,309 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 36% of full price

Federal loans

43%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −22% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $62,117 ten years after enrolling, more than at 72% of colleges; 72% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.4 years of that salary.

72%

72%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$62.1K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$20.5K

≈ $217/month for 10 years

Retention

81%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 72% → 65% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price held about steady after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 22%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 41% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 74% to 88%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −22% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +41%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 74% → 88%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.37 → 0.55

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Tarleton State University

90% admit · SAT 1070 · 12.7K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

Oakland University

88% admit · SAT 1130 · 12.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Midwest
Compare side-by-side

Youngstown State University

84% admit · SAT 1120 · 8K undergrads

Similar scoresAlso MidwestAlso public
Compare side-by-side

University of Nebraska at Omaha

87% admit · 11.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Midwest
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    Illinois State University (2026)

    Illinois State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 145813 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything