ISU vs. Carroll University

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

ISU Carroll University
Location Normal, IL Waukesha, WI
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 20,683 3,283
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #493 #534
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinoisstate.edu carrollu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ISU Carroll University
Tuition (In State) $11,840 $35,360
Tuition (Out of State) $23,681 $35,360
Room & Board $10,602 $11,564
Avg Net Price $20,551 $25,485
Avg Grant Aid $11,619 $23,933
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 100%

Admission

ISU Carroll University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,596 4,728
Admitted 16,899 3,411
Acceptance Rate 86.2% 72.1%
Enrolled % 23.6% 19.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.39
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27 22/28
SAT Range 1000/1210 1060/1340
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 Carroll University
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (12%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

ISU Carroll University
Graduation Rate 71% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $227 $279

Diversity

ISU Carroll University
% Men 42% 32%
% Women 58% 68%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 83%
% Black 8% 1%
% Hispanic 9% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

ISU Carroll University
% In-State 96% 66%
% Out-of-State 3% 30%

Campus

ISU Carroll University
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 Carroll University based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 3,283 students)

ISU vs. Carroll University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Carroll University?

  • Carroll University is 198.6% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($35,360.00 vs. $11,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 49.3% higher at Carroll University than Illinois State University ($35,360.00 vs. $23,681.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois State University than Carroll University ($20,551 vs. $25,485)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 9.1% lower than costs at Carroll University ($10,602 vs. $11,564)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Carroll University than Illinois State University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carroll University students is 106% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($23,933 vs. $11,619)

ISU vs. Carroll University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 3 points higher than at Carroll University (1087)
  • Incoming ISU students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at Carroll University (24)
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Carroll University (3.39)
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than Carroll University (72.1%)

ISU vs. Carroll University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ISU or Carroll University? 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 Carroll University and ISU.

  • The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Carroll University (71% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $4,800 more per year than Carroll University graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $44,200)
  • Illinois State University students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Carroll University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $27,000)
  • ISU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Carroll University graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Carroll University students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 74%)

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