US CollegesGetting in
Illinois State University admits 88% of those who apply, which makes it open to most applicants. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1113 out of 1600 (midpoints: 560 in reading and writing, 540 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 24 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from Illinois | $16,152 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $28,218 |
| Room and meals on campus | $12,382 |
| Books and supplies | $830 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $34,602 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $17,829 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is about the same as the median net price of colleges in Illinois on this site ($17,318). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $12,040 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $11,006 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $12,488 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $21,505 |
| Above $110,000 | $27,183 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | IL median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 81% | 72% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 67% | 53% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $67,557 | $58,865 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $17,000 | $19,684 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Illinois and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
38% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 46% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 57% women and 43% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 3 of the 88 colleges in Illinois on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,667.
Other colleges in Illinois of a similar size
- University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, public
- DePaul UniversityChicago, private nonprofit
- Chamberlain University-IllinoisAddison, private for-profit
- Loyola University ChicagoChicago, private nonprofit
- Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, public
- Northwestern UniversityEvanston, private nonprofit
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Illinois State University?
Illinois State University admits 88% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Illinois State University?
Published tuition and fees are $16,152 a year for students from Illinois and $28,218 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Illinois State University?
67% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.