IIT vs. ISU

Deciding between Illinois Institute of Technology 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.

Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IIT Chicago, IL
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • Setting
  • IIT Large City
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • IIT 8,834
  • ISU 21,546
  • Type
  • IIT Private 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IIT #236
  • ISU #502
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IIT -
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • IIT Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IIT
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • ISU $16,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • ISU $28,210
  • Room & Board
  • IIT $17,356
  • ISU $11,754
  • Average Net Price
  • IIT $24,796
  • ISU $21,369
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IIT $44,547
  • ISU $12,974
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IIT 100%
  • ISU 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IIT 12,216
  • ISU 21,573
  • Admitted
  • IIT 6,710
  • ISU 19,017
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IIT 54.9%
  • ISU 88.2%
  • Enrolled
  • IIT 7.7%
  • ISU 22.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IIT 1310
  • ISU 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • IIT 29
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • IIT 3.84
  • ISU 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IIT A-
  • ISU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • IIT Very High
  • ISU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • IIT Low
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • IIT 26/32
  • ISU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • IIT 1180/1440
  • ISU 990/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IIT Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IIT Mar 1, 2027
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IIT 14:1
  • ISU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IIT
    • Engineering (50%)
    • Architecture (20%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
    • Business (7%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IIT 64%
  • ISU 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IIT $79,300
  • ISU $49,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IIT 81%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IIT $27,000
  • ISU $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IIT $279
  • ISU $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IIT 62%
  • ISU 42%
  • % Women
  • IIT 38%
  • ISU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IIT Very High
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • IIT No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • IIT 33%
  • ISU 77%
  • % Asian
  • IIT 13%
  • ISU 2%
  • % Black
  • IIT 6%
  • ISU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • IIT 16%
  • ISU 9%
  • % Native American
  • IIT 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IIT 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IIT 2%
  • ISU 3%
  • % International
  • IIT 26%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IIT 4%
  • ISU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IIT 67%
  • ISU 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IIT 24%
  • ISU 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, 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 IIT based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 8,834 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Institute of Technology is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Illinois State University is in Normal, IL (Small City setting).
  • Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Institute of Technology 14:1; Illinois State University 19:1.

IIT vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IIT 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 IIT ($21,369 vs. $24,796).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 32.3% lower than at Illinois Institute of Technology ($11,754 vs. $17,356).
  • Illinois Institute of Technology is 224.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $36,242 more per year; $52,386.00 vs. $16,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 85.7% higher at IIT than at Illinois State University (about $24,176 more per year; $52,386.00 vs. $28,210.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Institute of Technology than at Illinois State University (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Institute of Technology students is 243.4% larger than aid received by Illinois State University students ($44,547 vs. $12,974).

IIT vs. ISU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IIT 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 IIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Institute of Technology (1310) is 210 points higher than at ISU (1100).
  • Incoming IIT students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 1180/1440; Illinois State University 990/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 26/32; Illinois State University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IIT - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: IIT Mar 1, 2027; ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IIT students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at ISU (3.41).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than IIT (54.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.7% at IIT vs. 22.5% at ISU.

IIT vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IIT 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).

  • Illinois State University's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Illinois Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Institute of Technology earn a median of about $30,300 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($79,300 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 IIT graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IIT graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More IIT 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.