ISU vs. Montclair State University

Should I go to Illinois State University or Montclair State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ISU or Montclair State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Illinois State University vs. Montclair State University comparison
Illinois State University Montclair State University College 3 College 4
Illinois State University Montclair State University
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Overview

ISU Montclair State University
Location Normal, IL Montclair, NJ
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 20,989 22,570
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #501 #615
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinoisstate.edu montclair.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ISU Montclair State University
Tuition (In State) $12,066 $13,710
Tuition (Out of State) $24,131 $23,070
Room & Board $11,584 $16,822
Avg Net Price $20,871 $13,880
Avg Grant Aid $11,590 $11,743
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 78%

Admission

ISU Montclair State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,884 23,599
Admitted 18,589 20,629
Acceptance Rate 89% 87.4%
Enrolled % 22.3% 19.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/27
SAT Range 1010/1230 940/1225
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, 2026

Academics

ISU Montclair State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Work and Family Studies (17%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

ISU Montclair State University
Graduation Rate 71% 62%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $22,999
Median Loan Payment $227 $237

Diversity

ISU Montclair State University
% Men 4% 6%
% Women 8% 14%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 77% 44%
% Black 8% 11%
% Hispanic 9% 25%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 9%

Students

ISU Montclair State University
% In-State 96% 94%
% Out-of-State 3% 5%

Campus

ISU Montclair State University
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

  • Montclair State University is larger than than ISU based on total student enrollment (22,570 students vs. 20,989 students)

ISU vs. Montclair State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Montclair State University?

  • Montclair State University is 13.6% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($13,710.00 vs. $12,066.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.6% higher at ISU than Montclair State University ($24,131.00 vs. $23,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montclair State University than ISU ($13,880 vs. $20,871)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 45.2% lower than costs at Montclair State University ($11,584 vs. $16,822)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than Montclair State University (96% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Montclair State University students is 1.3% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($11,743 vs. $11,590)

ISU vs. Montclair State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or Montclair State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Montclair State University or ISU .

  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Montclair State University (3.3)
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than Montclair State University (87.4%)

ISU vs. Montclair State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ISU or Montclair State University? 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 Montclair State University and ISU.

  • The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Montclair State University (71% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from Montclair State University earn on average $2,100 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($51,100 vs. $49,000)
  • Illinois State University students graduate with a $999 lower median federal student loan debt than Montclair State University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $22,999)
  • ISU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Montclair State University graduates. ($227 vs. $237)
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Montclair State University students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 67%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/