ISU vs. GVSU

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

ISU GVSU
Location Normal, IL Allendale, MI
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 20,989 22,269
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #501 #559
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinoisstate.edu gvsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ISU GVSU
Tuition (In State) $12,066 $14,628
Tuition (Out of State) $24,131 $20,820
Room & Board $11,584 $11,142
Avg Net Price $20,871 $17,995
Avg Grant Aid $11,590 $8,925
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 86%

Admission

ISU GVSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,884 24,297
Admitted 18,589 23,008
Acceptance Rate 89% 94.7%
Enrolled % 22.3% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.65
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/27 21/28
SAT Range 1010/1230 940/1190
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

ISU GVSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

ISU GVSU
Graduation Rate 71% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $44,600
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $227 $258

Diversity

ISU GVSU
% Men 4% 4%
% Women 8% 10%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 83%
% Black 8% 5%
% Hispanic 9% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

ISU GVSU
% In-State 96% 91%
% Out-of-State 3% 8%

Campus

ISU GVSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Grand Valley State University is larger than than ISU based on total student enrollment (22,269 students vs. 20,989 students)

ISU vs. GVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or GVSU?

  • Grand Valley State University is 21.2% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($14,628.00 vs. $12,066.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.9% higher at ISU than Grand Valley State University ($24,131.00 vs. $20,820.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grand Valley State University than ISU ($17,995 vs. $20,871)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 4% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($11,142 vs. $11,584)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than Grand Valley State University (96% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 29.9% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($11,590 vs. $8,925)

ISU vs. GVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is the same at GVSU (1090)
  • Incoming ISU students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at GVSU (24)
  • Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at ISU (3.41)
  • GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (94.7%) than ISU (89%)

ISU vs. GVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ISU or GVSU? 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 GVSU and ISU.

  • The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Grand Valley State University (71% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $4,400 more per year than GVSU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $44,600)
  • Illinois State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than GVSU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $25,000)
  • ISU graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than GVSU graduates. ($227 vs. $258)
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GVSU 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/