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Iowa Northern Illinois Illinois Michigan State Purdue Nebraska UIC Minnesota UNI ASU IU DePaul| Illinois State University | Iowa State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | ISU | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Ames, IA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 20,683 | 29,969 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #493 | #352 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | iastate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,840 | $8,678 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $23,681 | $25,162 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,602 | $9,358 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,551 | $15,310 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,619 | $11,043 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 80% |
Admission |
ISU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,596 | 21,919 | ||
| Admitted | 16,899 | 19,776 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.2% | 90.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.6% | 29% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1000/1210 | 1090/1350 | ||
| 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 | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $23,868 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $246 |
Diversity |
ISU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 55% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 45% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 0% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 5% |
Students |
ISU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 52% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 45% | ||
Campus |
ISU | ISU | ||
| 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
- Iowa State University is larger than than ISU based on total student enrollment (29,969 students vs. 20,683 students)
ISU vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or ISU?
- Illinois State University is 36.4% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($11,840.00 vs. $8,678.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6.3% higher at ISU than Illinois State University ($25,162.00 vs. $23,681.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa State University than ISU ($15,310 vs. $20,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 13.3% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($9,358 vs. $10,602)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than Iowa State University (97% vs. 80%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 5.2% larger than aid received Iowa State University ($11,619 vs. $11,043)
ISU vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Iowa State University (1142) is 52 points higher than at ISU (1090)
- Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at ISU (24)
- 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 (90.2%) than ISU (86.2%)
ISU vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or ISU? 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 ISU and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Iowa State University (71% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from Iowa State University earn on average $4,700 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $49,000)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $1,868 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $23,868)
- ISU graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans 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/