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Northern Illinois Illinois UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University WMU Bradley Southern Illinois University IIT ISU| Chicago State University | Illinois State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CSU | ISU | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Normal, IL | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,317 | 20,683 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #870 | #493 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | csu.edu | illinoisstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CSU | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,656 | $11,840 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,656 | $23,681 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,800 | $10,602 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $6,446 | $20,551 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,891 | $11,619 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 97% |
Admission |
CSU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,404 | 19,596 | ||
| Admitted | 3,592 | 16,899 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 48.5% | 86.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 4.8% | 23.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.18 | 3.41 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 15/19 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 750/963 | 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 |
CSU | ISU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CSU | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 21% | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $38,300 | $49,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 25% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $31,250 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $323 | $227 |
Diversity |
CSU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 3% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 75% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 12% | 0% |
Students |
CSU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 96% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 20% | 3% | ||
Campus |
CSU | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 2,317 students)
CSU vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CSU or ISU?
- Illinois State University is 54.6% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($11,840.00 vs. $7,656.00)
- Out of state tuition is 209.3% higher at ISU than Chicago State University ($23,681.00 vs. $7,656.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Chicago State University than ISU ($6,446 vs. $20,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 30.2% lower than costs at Chicago State University ($10,602 vs. $13,800)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than Chicago State University (97% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Chicago State University students is 36.8% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($15,891 vs. $11,619)
CSU vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CSU or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or CSU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 215 points higher than at CSU (875)
- Incoming ISU students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at CSU (18)
- Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at CSU (3.18)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than CSU (48.5%)
CSU vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CSU 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 CSU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Chicago State University (71% vs. 21%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $10,700 more per year than CSU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $38,300)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $9,250 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $31,250)
- ISU graduates are paying $96 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($227 vs. $323)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 25%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/