ISU vs. IUPUI

Deciding between Illinois State University and Indiana University Indianapolis? 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
Indiana University Indianapolis

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • IUPUI Indianapolis, IN
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • IUPUI Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 21,546
  • IUPUI 22,534
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • IUPUI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #502
  • IUPUI #409
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • IUPUI -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • IUPUI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • IUPUI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $16,144
  • IUPUI $10,762
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,210
  • IUPUI $34,891
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $11,754
  • IUPUI $13,308
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $21,369
  • IUPUI $12,228
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $12,974
  • IUPUI $11,104
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 96%
  • IUPUI 82%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 21,573
  • IUPUI 15,643
  • Admitted
  • ISU 19,017
  • IUPUI 11,947
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.2%
  • IUPUI 76.4%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 22.5%
  • IUPUI 24.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1100
  • IUPUI 1140
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • IUPUI 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • IUPUI 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • IUPUI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Moderate
  • IUPUI Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • IUPUI
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/27
  • IUPUI 21/29
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 990/1210
  • IUPUI 1030/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • IUPUI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027
  • IUPUI May 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 19:1
  • IUPUI 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • IUPUI
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 71%
  • IUPUI 33%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $49,000
  • IUPUI $48,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • IUPUI 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,000
  • IUPUI $23,090
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $227
  • IUPUI $238

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 42%
  • IUPUI 35%
  • % Women
  • ISU 58%
  • IUPUI 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • IUPUI Medium
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • IUPUI No
  • % White
  • ISU 77%
  • IUPUI 72%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 2%
  • IUPUI 4%
  • % Black
  • ISU 8%
  • IUPUI 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 9%
  • IUPUI 6%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • IUPUI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • IUPUI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • IUPUI 4%
  • % International
  • ISU 0%
  • IUPUI 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 0%
  • IUPUI 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 96%
  • IUPUI 94%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 3%
  • IUPUI 4%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois State University in Normal, IL with Indiana University Indianapolis in Indianapolis, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Indianapolis is larger than ISU based on total student enrollment (22,534 students vs. 21,546 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL (Small City setting); Indiana University Indianapolis is in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting).
  • Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Indiana University Indianapolis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois State University 19:1; Indiana University Indianapolis 13:1.

ISU vs. IUPUI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or IUPUI? 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 Indiana University Indianapolis than ISU ($12,228 vs. $21,369).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 11.7% lower than at Indiana University Indianapolis ($11,754 vs. $13,308).
  • Illinois State University is 50% more expensive for in-state tuition than IUPUI (about $5,382 more per year; $16,144.00 vs. $10,762.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.7% higher at IUPUI than at Illinois State University (about $6,681 more per year; $34,891.00 vs. $28,210.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois State University than at Indiana University Indianapolis (96% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 16.8% larger than aid received by Indiana University Indianapolis students ($12,974 vs. $11,104).

ISU vs. IUPUI Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Indianapolis (1140) is 40 points higher than at ISU (1100).
  • Incoming IUPUI students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 990/1210; Indiana University Indianapolis 1030/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 21/27; Indiana University Indianapolis 21/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; IUPUI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027; IUPUI May 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IUPUI students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at ISU (3.41).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than IUPUI (76.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at ISU vs. 24.6% at IUPUI.

ISU vs. IUPUI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and IUPUI? 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 Indiana University Indianapolis's (33%).
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn a median of about $400 more per year than IUPUI graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $48,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $1,090 lower median loan debt than IUPUI graduates ($22,000 vs. $23,090).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IUPUI graduates ($227 vs. $238).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IUPUI students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 53%)

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.