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Northern Illinois Illinois K-State UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University WMU ESU University of Missouri-Columbia Bradley| Illinois State University | University of Kansas | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | KU | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Lawrence, KS | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 20,989 | 28,406 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #501 | #291 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | ku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | KU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,066 | $10,596 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,131 | $28,308 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,584 | $10,818 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,871 | $18,322 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,590 | $10,644 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 89% |
Admission |
ISU | KU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 20,884 | 19,226 | ||
| Admitted | 18,589 | 16,958 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89% | 88.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.3% | 31% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.66 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/27 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1230 | 1050/1290 | ||
| 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 15, 2025 |
Academics |
ISU | KU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | KU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 61% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $54,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 66% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $211 |
Diversity |
ISU | KU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 11% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 0% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
ISU | KU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 55% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 43% | ||
Campus |
ISU | KU | ||
| 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
- University of Kansas is larger than than ISU based on total student enrollment (28,406 students vs. 20,989 students)
ISU vs. KU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or KU?
- Illinois State University is 13.9% more expensive to attend than KU for in-state tuition ($12,066.00 vs. $10,596.00)
- Out of state tuition is 17.3% higher at KU than Illinois State University ($28,308.00 vs. $24,131.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kansas than ISU ($18,322 vs. $20,871)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 7.1% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($10,818 vs. $11,584)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than University of Kansas (96% vs. 89%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 8.9% larger than aid received University of Kansas ($11,590 vs. $10,644)
ISU vs. KU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or KU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between KU or ISU .
- The average SAT score at University of Kansas (1145) is 55 points higher than at ISU (1090)
- Incoming KU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at ISU (24)
- Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at ISU (3.41)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than KU (88.2%)
ISU vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or KU? 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 KU and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than University of Kansas (71% vs. 61%)
- Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $5,600 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $49,000)
- University of Kansas students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $22,000)
- KU graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($211 vs. $227)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU 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/