Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Northern Illinois Illinois UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University WMU Bradley Southern Illinois University IIT ISU| Illinois State University | Cardinal Stritch University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | Stritch | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Milwaukee, WI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 20,989 | 1,332 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #501 | #1049 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | stritch.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | Stritch | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,066 | $34,744 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,131 | $34,744 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,584 | $8,900 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,871 | - | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,590 | $0 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 0% |
Admission |
ISU | Stritch | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 20,884 | - | ||
| Admitted | 18,589 | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89% | |||
| Enrolled % | 22.3% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.18 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/27 | 18/21 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1230 | 1010/1220 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Apr 1, 2026 |
Academics |
ISU | Stritch | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 7:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
ISU | Stritch | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 55% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $52,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 51% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $279 |
Diversity |
ISU | Stritch | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 29% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 71% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 54% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 21% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
ISU | Stritch | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 24% | ||
Campus |
ISU | Stritch | ||
| 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 Stritch based on total student enrollment (20,989 students vs. 1,332 students)
ISU vs. Stritch Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or Stritch?
- Cardinal Stritch University is 187.9% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($34,744.00 vs. $12,066.00)
- Out of state tuition is 44% higher at Stritch than Illinois State University ($34,744.00 vs. $24,131.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cardinal Stritch University are 30.2% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($8,900 vs. $11,584)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than Cardinal Stritch University (96% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is ?% larger than aid received Cardinal Stritch University ($11,590 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or Stritch? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Stritch or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 62 points higher than at Stritch (1028)
- Incoming ISU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Stritch (22)
- Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Stritch (3.18)
ISU vs. Stritch Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or Stritch? 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 Stritch and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Cardinal Stritch University (71% vs. 55%)
- Graduates from Cardinal Stritch University earn on average $3,500 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($52,500 vs. $49,000)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Stritch graduates. ($22,000 vs. $27,000)
- ISU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Stritch graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Stritch students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 51%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/