Elmhurst College vs. ISU

Should I go to Elmhurst College or Illinois State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Elmhurst College 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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Elmhurst College vs. Illinois State University comparison
Elmhurst College Illinois State University College 3 College 4
Elmhurst College Illinois State University
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Overview

Elmhurst College ISU
Location Elmhurst, IL Normal, IL
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 3,731 20,683
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #380 #493
Religious Affiliation United Church of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elmhurst.edu illinoisstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Elmhurst College ISU
Tuition (In State) $39,862 $11,840
Tuition (Out of State) $39,862 $23,681
Room & Board $11,250 $10,602
Avg Net Price $24,108 $20,551
Avg Grant Aid $27,835 $11,619
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 97%

Admission

Elmhurst College ISU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,731 19,596
Admitted 4,356 16,899
Acceptance Rate 76% 86.2%
Enrolled % 14.2% 23.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.41
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 21/27
SAT Range 980/1240 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

Elmhurst College ISU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Elmhurst College ISU
Graduation Rate 70% 71%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,200 $49,000
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $227

Diversity

Elmhurst College ISU
% Men 38% 42%
% Women 62% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 77%
% Black 5% 8%
% Hispanic 17% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Elmhurst College ISU
% In-State 78% 96%
% Out-of-State 13% 3%

Campus

Elmhurst College 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 Elmhurst College based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 3,731 students)

Elmhurst College vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elmhurst College or ISU?

  • Elmhurst College is 236.7% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($39,862.00 vs. $11,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 68.3% higher at Elmhurst College than Illinois State University ($39,862.00 vs. $23,681.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois State University than Elmhurst College ($20,551 vs. $24,108)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 6.1% lower than costs at Elmhurst College ($10,602 vs. $11,250)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Elmhurst College than Illinois State University (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elmhurst College students is 139.6% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($27,835 vs. $11,619)

Elmhurst College vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Elmhurst College (1090) is the same at ISU (1090)
  • Incoming Elmhurst College students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at ISU (24)
  • Accepted freshman Elmhurst College students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at ISU (3.41)
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than Elmhurst College (76%)

Elmhurst College vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Elmhurst College 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 Elmhurst College.

  • The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Elmhurst College (71% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from Elmhurst College earn on average $1,200 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($50,200 vs. $49,000)
  • Elmhurst College students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,000)
  • Elmhurst College graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($222 vs. $227)
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elmhurst College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 72%)

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