Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Northern Illinois Illinois UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University WMU Bradley Southern Illinois University IIT ISU| Illinois State University | Southwest Baptist University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | Southwest Baptist University | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Bolivar, MO | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 20,989 | 2,155 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #501 | #1031 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Southern Baptist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | sbuniv.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | Southwest Baptist University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,066 | $27,290 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,131 | $27,290 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,584 | $8,952 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,871 | $19,781 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,590 | $18,334 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 96% |
Admission |
ISU | Southwest Baptist University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 20,884 | 1,057 | ||
| Admitted | 18,589 | 1,054 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89% | 99.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.3% | 25.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.55 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/27 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1230 | 960/1200 | ||
| 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 | Southwest Baptist University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 10:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
ISU | Southwest Baptist University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 48% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $36,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $21,087 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $218 |
Diversity |
ISU | Southwest Baptist University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 1% | ||
| % International | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 6% |
Students |
ISU | Southwest Baptist University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 59% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 25% | ||
Campus |
ISU | Southwest Baptist University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than Southwest Baptist University based on total student enrollment (20,989 students vs. 2,155 students)
ISU vs. Southwest Baptist University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or Southwest Baptist University?
- Southwest Baptist University is 126.2% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($27,290.00 vs. $12,066.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.1% higher at Southwest Baptist University than Illinois State University ($27,290.00 vs. $24,131.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwest Baptist University than ISU ($19,781 vs. $20,871)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Baptist University are 29.4% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($8,952 vs. $11,584)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University as Southwest Baptist University (96% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Baptist University students is 58.2% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($18,334 vs. $11,590)
ISU vs. Southwest Baptist University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or Southwest Baptist University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Southwest Baptist University or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 32 points higher than at Southwest Baptist University (1058)
- Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Southwest Baptist University (23)
- Accepted freshman Southwest Baptist University students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at ISU (3.41)
- Southwest Baptist University has a higher acceptance rate (99.7%) than ISU (89%)
ISU vs. Southwest Baptist University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or Southwest Baptist 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 Southwest Baptist University and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Southwest Baptist University (71% vs. 48%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $12,300 more per year than Southwest Baptist University graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $36,700)
- Southwest Baptist University students graduate with a $913 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($21,087 vs. $22,000)
- Southwest Baptist University graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($218 vs. $227)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Baptist University students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/