ISU vs. Clarke University

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

ISU Clarke University
Location Normal, IL Dubuque, IA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 20,683 965
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #493
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinoisstate.edu clarke.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ISU Clarke University
Tuition (In State) $11,840 $36,900
Tuition (Out of State) $23,681 $36,900
Room & Board $10,602 $10,600
Avg Net Price $20,551 $27,275
Avg Grant Aid $11,619 $25,403
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 100%

Admission

ISU Clarke University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,596 2,665
Admitted 16,899 2,260
Acceptance Rate 86.2% 84.8%
Enrolled % 23.6% 8.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.36
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 18/23
SAT Range 1000/1210 920/1160
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 Clarke University
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Human Services (6%)

Outcomes

ISU Clarke University
Graduation Rate 71% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $42,800
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $227 $268

Diversity

ISU Clarke University
% Men 42% 51%
% Women 58% 49%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 85%
% Black 8% 4%
% Hispanic 9% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

ISU Clarke University
% In-State 96% 25%
% Out-of-State 3% 65%

Campus

ISU Clarke 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 Clarke University based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 965 students)

ISU vs. Clarke University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Clarke University?

  • Clarke University is 211.7% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($36,900.00 vs. $11,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 55.8% higher at Clarke University than Illinois State University ($36,900.00 vs. $23,681.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois State University than Clarke University ($20,551 vs. $27,275)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarke University are 0% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($10,600 vs. $10,602)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarke University than Illinois State University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarke University students is 118.6% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($25,403 vs. $11,619)

ISU vs. Clarke University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 45 points higher than at Clarke University (1045)
  • Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Clarke University (23)
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Clarke University (3.36)
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than Clarke University (84.8%)

ISU vs. Clarke University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ISU or Clarke 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 Clarke University and ISU.

  • The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Clarke University (71% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $6,200 more per year than Clarke University graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $42,800)
  • Illinois State University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarke University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $26,000)
  • ISU graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than Clarke University graduates. ($227 vs. $268)
  • More Clarke University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU 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/