Augustana vs. ISU

Deciding between Augustana College and Illinois State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Augustana College
Illinois State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Augustana Rock Island, IL
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • Setting
  • Augustana Small City
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Augustana 2,570
  • ISU 21,546
  • Type
  • Augustana Private 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Augustana #311
  • ISU #502
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • Augustana Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Augustana
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Augustana $51,598
  • ISU $16,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Augustana $51,598
  • ISU $28,210
  • Room & Board
  • Augustana $12,502
  • ISU $11,754
  • Average Net Price
  • Augustana $24,714
  • ISU $21,369
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Augustana $39,242
  • ISU $12,974
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Augustana 100%
  • ISU 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Augustana 7,857
  • ISU 21,573
  • Admitted
  • Augustana 4,925
  • ISU 19,017
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Augustana 62.7%
  • ISU 88.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Augustana 13.5%
  • ISU 22.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Augustana 1150
  • ISU 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • Augustana 25
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Augustana 3.3
  • ISU 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Augustana B+
  • ISU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Augustana Challenging
  • ISU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Augustana Low
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • Augustana 21/29
  • ISU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • Augustana 1030/1270
  • ISU 990/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Augustana Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Augustana Aug 1, 2027
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Augustana 12:1
  • ISU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Augustana
    • Business (19%)
    • Biology (19%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Augustana 76%
  • ISU 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Augustana $55,100
  • ISU $49,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Augustana 81%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Augustana $27,000
  • ISU $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Augustana $279
  • ISU $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Augustana 47%
  • ISU 42%
  • % Women
  • Augustana 53%
  • ISU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Augustana Low
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • Augustana No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • Augustana 76%
  • ISU 77%
  • % Asian
  • Augustana 2%
  • ISU 2%
  • % Black
  • Augustana 4%
  • ISU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Augustana 10%
  • ISU 9%
  • % Native American
  • Augustana 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Augustana 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Augustana 4%
  • ISU 3%
  • % International
  • Augustana 4%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Augustana 1%
  • ISU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Augustana 53%
  • ISU 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Augustana 21%
  • ISU 3%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Augustana Yes
  • ISU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Augustana No
  • ISU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Augustana Yes
  • ISU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Augustana No
  • ISU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Augustana No
  • ISU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Augustana College in Rock Island, IL with Illinois State University in Normal, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois State University is larger than Augustana based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 2,570 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Augustana College is located in Rock Island, IL (Small City setting); Illinois State University is in Normal, IL (Small City setting).
  • Augustana College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Augustana College 12:1; Illinois State University 19:1.

Augustana vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Augustana or ISU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois State University than Augustana ($21,369 vs. $24,714).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 6% lower than at Augustana College ($11,754 vs. $12,502).
  • Augustana College is 219.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $35,454 more per year; $51,598.00 vs. $16,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 82.9% higher at Augustana than at Illinois State University (about $23,388 more per year; $51,598.00 vs. $28,210.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Augustana College than at Illinois State University (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Augustana College students is 202.5% larger than aid received by Illinois State University students ($39,242 vs. $12,974).

Augustana vs. ISU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Augustana or ISU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between ISU and Augustana.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Augustana College (1150) is 50 points higher than at ISU (1100).
  • Incoming Augustana students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Augustana College 1030/1270; Illinois State University 990/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Augustana College 21/29; Illinois State University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Augustana - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Augustana Aug 1, 2027; ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Augustana (3.3).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than Augustana (62.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at Augustana vs. 22.5% at ISU.

Augustana vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Augustana and ISU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Augustana College's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Illinois State University's (71%).
  • Graduates from Augustana College earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,100 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Augustana graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Augustana graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More Augustana graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.