Aurora University vs. ISU

Should I go to Aurora University or Illinois State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Aurora University or ISU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Aurora University vs. Illinois State University comparison
Aurora University Illinois State University College 3 College 4
Aurora University Illinois State University
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Overview

Aurora University ISU
Location Aurora, IL Normal, IL
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 5,918 20,683
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #851 #493
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website aurora.edu illinoisstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Aurora University ISU
Tuition (In State) $27,200 $11,840
Tuition (Out of State) $27,200 $23,681
Room & Board $12,360 $10,602
Avg Net Price $19,350 $20,551
Avg Grant Aid $19,830 $11,619
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

Aurora University ISU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,922 19,596
Admitted 2,393 16,899
Acceptance Rate 81.9% 86.2%
Enrolled % 28.1% 23.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.41
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 21/27
SAT Range 980/1198 1000/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025

Academics

Aurora University ISU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Human Services (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Aurora University ISU
Graduation Rate 44% 71%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,900 $49,000
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,337 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $230 $227

Diversity

Aurora University ISU
% Men 29% 42%
% Women 71% 58%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 56% 77%
% Black 8% 8%
% Hispanic 25% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 5% 0%

Students

Aurora University ISU
% In-State 84% 96%
% Out-of-State 15% 3%

Campus

Aurora University ISU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Illinois State University is larger than than Aurora University based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 5,918 students)

Aurora University vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Aurora University or ISU?

  • Aurora University is 129.7% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($27,200.00 vs. $11,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.9% higher at Aurora University than Illinois State University ($27,200.00 vs. $23,681.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aurora University than ISU ($19,350 vs. $20,551)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 16.6% lower than costs at Aurora University ($10,602 vs. $12,360)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Aurora University than Illinois State University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Aurora University students is 70.7% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($19,830 vs. $11,619)

Aurora University vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Aurora University or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or Aurora University .

  • The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 100 points higher than at Aurora University (990)
  • Incoming ISU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Aurora University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Aurora University students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at ISU (3.41)
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than Aurora University (81.9%)

Aurora University vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Aurora University or ISU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ISU and Aurora University.

  • The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Aurora University (71% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $6,100 more per year than Aurora University graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $42,900)
  • Illinois State University students graduate with a $337 lower median federal student loan debt than Aurora University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $22,337)
  • ISU graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Aurora University graduates. ($227 vs. $230)
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Aurora University students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/