ISU vs. AQ

Deciding between Illinois State University and Aquinas College? 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 State University
Aquinas College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • AQ Grand Rapids, MI
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • AQ Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 21,546
  • AQ 1,157
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • AQ Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #502
  • AQ #753
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • AQ Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • AQ Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • AQ

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $16,144
  • AQ $40,218
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,210
  • AQ $40,218
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $11,754
  • AQ $11,680
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $21,369
  • AQ $18,018
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $12,974
  • AQ $33,535
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 96%
  • AQ 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 21,573
  • AQ 2,193
  • Admitted
  • ISU 19,017
  • AQ 1,971
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.2%
  • AQ 89.9%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 22.5%
  • AQ 11.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1100
  • AQ 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • AQ 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • AQ 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • AQ A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Moderate
  • AQ Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • AQ
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/27
  • AQ 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 990/1210
  • AQ 910/1140
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • AQ Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027
  • AQ

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 19:1
  • AQ 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • AQ
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 71%
  • AQ 52%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $49,000
  • AQ $40,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • AQ 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,000
  • AQ $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $227
  • AQ $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 42%
  • AQ 47%
  • % Women
  • ISU 58%
  • AQ 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • AQ Very Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • AQ No
  • % White
  • ISU 77%
  • AQ 82%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 2%
  • AQ 1%
  • % Black
  • ISU 8%
  • AQ 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 9%
  • AQ 6%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • AQ 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • AQ 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • AQ 3%
  • % International
  • ISU 0%
  • AQ 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 0%
  • AQ 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 96%
  • AQ 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 3%
  • AQ 10%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois State University in Normal, IL with Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois State University is larger than AQ based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 1,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL (Small City setting); Aquinas College is in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting).
  • Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois State University 19:1; Aquinas College 10:1.

ISU vs. AQ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or AQ? 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 Aquinas College than ISU ($18,018 vs. $21,369).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 0.6% lower than at Illinois State University ($11,680 vs. $11,754).
  • Aquinas College is 149.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $24,074 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $16,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 42.6% higher at AQ than at Illinois State University (about $12,008 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $28,210.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College than at Illinois State University (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 158.5% larger than aid received by Illinois State University students ($33,535 vs. $12,974).

ISU vs. AQ Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or AQ? 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 AQ and ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois State University (1100) is 70 points higher than at AQ (1030).
  • Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at AQ).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 990/1210; Aquinas College 910/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 21/27; Aquinas College 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; AQ - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at ISU (3.41).
  • AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than ISU (88.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at ISU vs. 11.8% at AQ.

ISU vs. AQ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and AQ? 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 Aquinas College's (52%).
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than AQ graduates ($22,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AQ graduates ($227 vs. $268).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 60%)

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.