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Northern Illinois Illinois BGSU Cleveland State UIC DePaul EIU Ohio University IWU Western Illinois University Ohio State WMU| Illinois State University | Kent State University at Kent | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | Kent State | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Kent, OH | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 20,683 | 25,854 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #493 | #839 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | kent.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | Kent State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,840 | $12,304 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $23,681 | $21,410 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,602 | $12,676 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,551 | $19,046 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,619 | $9,539 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 96% |
Admission |
ISU | Kent State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,596 | 20,369 | ||
| Admitted | 16,899 | 17,929 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.2% | 88% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.6% | 23.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.61 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 18/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1000/1210 | 990/1220 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
ISU | Kent State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | Kent State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $40,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 46% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $25,825 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $267 |
Diversity |
ISU | Kent State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 3% |
Students |
ISU | Kent State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 18% | ||
Campus |
ISU | Kent State | ||
| 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
- Kent State University at Kent is larger than than ISU based on total student enrollment (25,854 students vs. 20,683 students)
ISU vs. Kent State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or Kent State?
- Kent State University at Kent is 3.9% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($12,304.00 vs. $11,840.00)
- Out of state tuition is 10.6% higher at ISU than Kent State University at Kent ($23,681.00 vs. $21,410.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kent State University at Kent than ISU ($19,046 vs. $20,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 19.6% lower than costs at Kent State University at Kent ($10,602 vs. $12,676)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than Kent State University at Kent (97% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 21.8% larger than aid received Kent State University at Kent ($11,619 vs. $9,539)
ISU vs. Kent State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or Kent State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Kent State or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 23 points higher than at Kent State (1067)
- Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Kent State (23)
- Accepted freshman Kent State students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at ISU (3.41)
- Kent State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than ISU (86.2%)
ISU vs. Kent State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or Kent State? 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 Kent State and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Kent State University at Kent (71% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $8,700 more per year than Kent State graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $40,300)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $3,825 lower median federal student loan debt than Kent State graduates. ($22,000 vs. $25,825)
- ISU graduates are paying $40 less per month on federal student loans than Kent State graduates. ($227 vs. $267)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kent State students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/