ISU vs. SIUE

Deciding between Illinois State University and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville? 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
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • SIUE Edwardsville, IL
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • SIUE Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 21,546
  • SIUE 11,893
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • SIUE Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #502
  • SIUE #516
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • SIUE -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • SIUE Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • SIUE

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $16,144
  • SIUE $12,922
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,210
  • SIUE $12,922
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $11,754
  • SIUE $14,490
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $21,369
  • SIUE $17,115
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $12,974
  • SIUE $11,602
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 96%
  • SIUE 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 21,573
  • SIUE 10,150
  • Admitted
  • ISU 19,017
  • SIUE 9,896
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.2%
  • SIUE 97.5%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 22.5%
  • SIUE 15.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1100
  • SIUE 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • SIUE 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • SIUE 3.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • SIUE A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Moderate
  • SIUE Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • SIUE
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/27
  • SIUE 20/27
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 990/1210
  • SIUE 950/1190
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • SIUE Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027
  • SIUE May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 19:1
  • SIUE 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • SIUE
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 71%
  • SIUE 52%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $49,000
  • SIUE $47,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • SIUE 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,000
  • SIUE $21,430
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $227
  • SIUE $221

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 42%
  • SIUE 42%
  • % Women
  • ISU 58%
  • SIUE 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • SIUE Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • SIUE No
  • % White
  • ISU 77%
  • SIUE 73%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 2%
  • SIUE 2%
  • % Black
  • ISU 8%
  • SIUE 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 9%
  • SIUE 4%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • SIUE 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • SIUE 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • SIUE 3%
  • % International
  • ISU 0%
  • SIUE 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 0%
  • SIUE 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 96%
  • SIUE 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 3%
  • SIUE 16%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Illinois State University is larger than SIUE based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 11,893 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL (Small City setting); Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is in Edwardsville, IL (Large Suburban setting).
  • Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois State University 19:1; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 15:1.

ISU vs. SIUE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or SIUE? 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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville than ISU ($17,115 vs. $21,369).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 18.9% lower than at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ($11,754 vs. $14,490).
  • Illinois State University is 24.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SIUE (about $3,222 more per year; $16,144.00 vs. $12,922.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 118.3% higher at ISU than at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (about $15,288 more per year; $28,210.00 vs. $12,922.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois State University than at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (96% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 11.8% larger than aid received by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students ($12,974 vs. $11,602).

ISU vs. SIUE Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois State University (1100) is 30 points higher than at SIUE (1070).
  • Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at SIUE).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 990/1210; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 950/1190.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 21/27; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 20/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; SIUE - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027; SIUE May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SIUE students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at ISU (3.41).
  • SIUE has a higher acceptance rate (97.5%) than ISU (88.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at ISU vs. 15.7% at SIUE.

ISU vs. SIUE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and SIUE? 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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's (52%).
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than SIUE graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $47,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates have a $570 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($21,430 vs. $22,000).
  • Among borrowers, SIUE graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($221 vs. $227).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SIUE students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 61%)

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.