ISU vs. ISU

Deciding between Illinois State University and Iowa State University? 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
Iowa State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 21,546
  • ISU 30,380
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #502
  • ISU #343
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $16,144
  • ISU $10,787
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,210
  • ISU $28,881
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $11,754
  • ISU $10,808
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $21,369
  • ISU $17,779
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $12,974
  • ISU $10,791
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 96%
  • ISU 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 21,573
  • ISU 23,095
  • Admitted
  • ISU 19,017
  • ISU 20,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.2%
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 22.5%
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1100
  • ISU 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • ISU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • ISU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Moderate
  • ISU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/27
  • ISU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 990/1210
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027
  • ISU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 19:1
  • ISU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 71%
  • ISU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $49,000
  • ISU $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,000
  • ISU $23,868
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $227
  • ISU $246

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 42%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Women
  • ISU 58%
  • ISU 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • ISU 77%
  • ISU 76%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 2%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Black
  • ISU 8%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 9%
  • ISU 5%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • ISU 2%
  • % International
  • ISU 0%
  • ISU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 0%
  • ISU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 96%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 3%
  • ISU 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois State University in Normal, IL with Iowa State University in Ames, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Iowa State University is larger than ISU based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 21,546 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL (Small City setting); Iowa State University is in Ames, IA (Small City setting).
  • Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois State University 19:1; Iowa State University 18:1.

ISU vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or ISU? 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 Iowa State University than ISU ($17,779 vs. $21,369).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 8% lower than at Illinois State University ($10,808 vs. $11,754).
  • Illinois State University is 49.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $5,357 more per year; $16,144.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at ISU than at Illinois State University (about $671 more per year; $28,881.00 vs. $28,210.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois State University than at Iowa State University (96% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 20.2% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($12,974 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. ISU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Iowa State University (1240) is 140 points higher than at ISU (1100).
  • Incoming ISU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 24) as students at ISU (24).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 990/1210; Iowa State University 1120/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 21/27; Iowa State University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at ISU (3.41).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than ISU (88.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at ISU vs. 28.8% at ISU.

ISU vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and ISU? 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 Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Iowa State University earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $1,868 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($22,000 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($227 vs. $246).
  • More ISU 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.