ISU vs. Milikin

Deciding between Illinois State University and Millikin 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
Millikin University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • Milikin Decatur, IL
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • Milikin Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 21,546
  • Milikin 1,586
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • Milikin Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #502
  • Milikin #504
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • Milikin Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Milikin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • Milikin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $16,144
  • Milikin $26,892
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,210
  • Milikin $26,892
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $11,754
  • Milikin $13,695
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $21,369
  • Milikin $22,813
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $12,974
  • Milikin $34,733
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 96%
  • Milikin 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 21,573
  • Milikin 5,144
  • Admitted
  • ISU 19,017
  • Milikin 3,430
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.2%
  • Milikin 66.7%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 22.5%
  • Milikin 10%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1100
  • Milikin 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • Milikin 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • Milikin 3.4
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • Milikin B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Moderate
  • Milikin Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • Milikin Low
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/27
  • Milikin 18/25
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 990/1210
  • Milikin 860/1130
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • Milikin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027
  • Milikin

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 19:1
  • Milikin 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Milikin
    • Education (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 71%
  • Milikin 65%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $49,000
  • Milikin $47,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • Milikin 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,000
  • Milikin $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $227
  • Milikin $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 42%
  • Milikin 45%
  • % Women
  • ISU 58%
  • Milikin 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • Milikin Medium
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • Milikin No
  • % White
  • ISU 77%
  • Milikin 73%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 2%
  • Milikin 1%
  • % Black
  • ISU 8%
  • Milikin 14%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 9%
  • Milikin 6%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • Milikin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • Milikin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • Milikin 4%
  • % International
  • ISU 0%
  • Milikin 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 0%
  • Milikin 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 96%
  • Milikin 79%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 3%
  • Milikin 20%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Illinois State University is larger than Milikin based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 1,586 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL (Small City setting); Millikin University is in Decatur, IL (Small City setting).
  • Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Millikin University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois State University 19:1; Millikin University 10:1.

ISU vs. Milikin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Milikin? 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 Illinois State University than Milikin ($21,369 vs. $22,813).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 14.2% lower than at Millikin University ($11,754 vs. $13,695).
  • Millikin University is 66.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $10,748 more per year; $26,892.00 vs. $16,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at ISU than at Millikin University (about $1,318 more per year; $28,210.00 vs. $26,892.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Millikin University than at Illinois State University (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Millikin University students is 167.7% larger than aid received by Illinois State University students ($34,733 vs. $12,974).

ISU vs. Milikin Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois State University (1100) is 100 points higher than at Milikin (1000).
  • Incoming ISU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 21 at Milikin).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 990/1210; Millikin University 860/1130.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 21/27; Millikin University 18/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; Milikin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Milikin (3.4).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than Milikin (66.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at ISU vs. 10% at Milikin.

ISU vs. Milikin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and Milikin? 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 Millikin University's (65%).
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than Milikin graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $47,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Milikin graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Milikin graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Milikin students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 66%)

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.