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Northern Illinois Illinois UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University WMU Bradley Southern Illinois University IIT ISU| Illinois State University | Aquinas College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | AQ | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Grand Rapids, MI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 20,683 | 1,265 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #493 | #819 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | aquinas.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | AQ | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,840 | $36,480 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $23,681 | $36,480 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,602 | $10,572 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,551 | $18,605 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,619 | $30,049 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 100% |
Admission |
ISU | AQ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,596 | 2,116 | ||
| Admitted | 16,899 | 1,921 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.2% | 90.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.6% | 16% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.52 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | |||
| SAT Range | 1000/1210 | 1000/1180 | ||
| 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 |
ISU | AQ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | AQ | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 52% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $40,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $268 |
Diversity |
ISU | AQ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 43% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 57% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 3% |
Students |
ISU | AQ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 84% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 13% | ||
Campus |
ISU | AQ | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than AQ based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 1,265 students)
ISU vs. AQ Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or AQ?
- Aquinas College is 208.1% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($36,480.00 vs. $11,840.00)
- Out of state tuition is 54% higher at AQ than Illinois State University ($36,480.00 vs. $23,681.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aquinas College than ISU ($18,605 vs. $20,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 0.3% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($10,572 vs. $10,602)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Aquinas College than Illinois State University (100% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 158.6% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($30,049 vs. $11,619)
ISU vs. AQ Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or AQ? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AQ or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is the same at AQ (1090)
- Incoming ISU students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at AQ (24)
- 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 (90.8%) than ISU (86.2%)
ISU vs. AQ Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or AQ? 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 AQ and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Aquinas College (71% vs. 52%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $9,000 more per year than AQ graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $40,000)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than AQ graduates. ($22,000 vs. $26,000)
- ISU graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans 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/