ISU vs. Cornerstone University

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

ISU Cornerstone University
Location Normal, IL Grand Rapids, MI
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 20,683 1,781
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #493 #867
Religious Affiliation - Interdenominational - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinoisstate.edu cornerstone.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ISU Cornerstone University
Tuition (In State) $11,840 $27,580
Tuition (Out of State) $23,681 $27,580
Room & Board $10,602 $10,520
Avg Net Price $20,551 $20,935
Avg Grant Aid $11,619 $18,502
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 100%

Admission

ISU Cornerstone University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,596 1,926
Admitted 16,899 1,575
Acceptance Rate 86.2% 81.8%
Enrolled % 23.6% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.28
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 20/25
SAT Range 1000/1210 970/1220
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025

Academics

ISU Cornerstone University
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (56%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (11%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)

Outcomes

ISU Cornerstone University
Graduation Rate 71% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $38,800
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $227 $258

Diversity

ISU Cornerstone University
% Men 42% 40%
% Women 58% 60%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 78%
% Black 8% 13%
% Hispanic 9% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

ISU Cornerstone University
% In-State 96% 80%
% Out-of-State 3% 14%

Campus

ISU Cornerstone 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 Cornerstone University based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 1,781 students)

ISU vs. Cornerstone University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Cornerstone University?

  • Cornerstone University is 132.9% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($27,580.00 vs. $11,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.5% higher at Cornerstone University than Illinois State University ($27,580.00 vs. $23,681.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois State University than Cornerstone University ($20,551 vs. $20,935)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornerstone University are 0.8% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($10,520 vs. $10,602)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cornerstone University than Illinois State University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornerstone University students is 59.2% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($18,502 vs. $11,619)

ISU vs. Cornerstone University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 57 points higher than at Cornerstone University (1033)
  • Incoming ISU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Cornerstone University (22)
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Cornerstone University (3.28)
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than Cornerstone University (81.8%)

ISU vs. Cornerstone University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Cornerstone University (71% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $10,200 more per year than Cornerstone University graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $38,800)
  • Illinois State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Cornerstone University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $25,000)
  • ISU graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Cornerstone University graduates. ($227 vs. $258)
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornerstone University students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 62%)

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