ISU vs. Carthage

Deciding between Illinois State University and Carthage 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
Carthage College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • Carthage Kenosha, WI
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • Carthage Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 21,546
  • Carthage 2,844
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • Carthage Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #502
  • Carthage #663
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • Carthage Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Carthage Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • Carthage

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $16,144
  • Carthage $38,750
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,210
  • Carthage $38,750
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $11,754
  • Carthage $13,450
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $21,369
  • Carthage $27,066
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $12,974
  • Carthage $23,784
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 96%
  • Carthage 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 21,573
  • Carthage 7,777
  • Admitted
  • ISU 19,017
  • Carthage 6,771
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.2%
  • Carthage 87.1%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 22.5%
  • Carthage 11.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1100
  • Carthage 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • Carthage 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • Carthage 3.36
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • Carthage B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Moderate
  • Carthage Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • Carthage
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/27
  • Carthage 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 990/1210
  • Carthage 1000/1205
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • Carthage Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027
  • Carthage

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 19:1
  • Carthage 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Carthage
    • Business (28%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 71%
  • Carthage 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $49,000
  • Carthage $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • Carthage 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,000
  • Carthage $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $227
  • Carthage $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 42%
  • Carthage 43%
  • % Women
  • ISU 58%
  • Carthage 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • Carthage Very Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • Carthage No
  • % White
  • ISU 77%
  • Carthage 75%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 2%
  • Carthage 1%
  • % Black
  • ISU 8%
  • Carthage 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 9%
  • Carthage 4%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • Carthage 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • Carthage 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • Carthage 3%
  • % International
  • ISU 0%
  • Carthage 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 0%
  • Carthage 11%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 96%
  • Carthage 36%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 3%
  • Carthage 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois State University in Normal, IL with Carthage College in Kenosha, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois State University is larger than Carthage based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 2,844 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL (Small City setting); Carthage College is in Kenosha, WI (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Carthage College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois State University 19:1; Carthage College 14:1.

ISU vs. Carthage Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Carthage? 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 Carthage ($21,369 vs. $27,066).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 12.6% lower than at Carthage College ($11,754 vs. $13,450).
  • Carthage College is 140% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $22,606 more per year; $38,750.00 vs. $16,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 37.4% higher at Carthage than at Illinois State University (about $10,540 more per year; $38,750.00 vs. $28,210.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carthage College than at Illinois State University (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carthage College students is 83.3% larger than aid received by Illinois State University students ($23,784 vs. $12,974).

ISU vs. Carthage Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois State University (1100) is the same as at Carthage (1100).
  • Incoming ISU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 22 at Carthage).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 990/1210; Carthage College 1000/1205.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 21/27; Carthage College 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; Carthage - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Carthage (3.36).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than Carthage (87.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at ISU vs. 11.3% at Carthage.

ISU vs. Carthage Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and Carthage? 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 Carthage College's (59%).
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn a median of about $200 more per year than Carthage graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Carthage graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carthage graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Carthage students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 73%)

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.