ISU vs. UM-Dearborn

Should I go to Illinois State University or University of Michigan Dearborn? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ISU or UM-Dearborn 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Northern Illinois WSU Illinois UIC Michigan State Michigan DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University Oakland WMU
Illinois State University vs. University of Michigan Dearborn comparison
Illinois State University University of Michigan Dearborn College 3 College 4
Illinois State University University of Michigan Dearborn
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

ISU UM-Dearborn
Location Normal, IL Dearborn, MI
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 20,989 8,035
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #501 #405
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinoisstate.edu umich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ISU UM-Dearborn
Tuition (In State) $12,066 $14,544
Tuition (Out of State) $24,131 $30,960
Room & Board $11,584 $10,803
Avg Net Price $20,871 $12,798
Avg Grant Aid $11,590 $9,552
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 96%

Admission

ISU UM-Dearborn
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,884 12,373
Admitted 18,589 7,254
Acceptance Rate 89% 58.6%
Enrolled % 22.3% 15.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.66
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/27 23/30
SAT Range 1010/1230 990/1260
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 Apr 1, 2026

Academics

ISU UM-Dearborn
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

ISU UM-Dearborn
Graduation Rate 71% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $52,800
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $25,750
Median Loan Payment $227 $266

Diversity

ISU UM-Dearborn
% Men 4% 15%
% Women 8% 9%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 77% 69%
% Black 8% 9%
% Hispanic 9% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

ISU UM-Dearborn
% In-State 96% 93%
% Out-of-State 3% 3%

Campus

ISU UM-Dearborn
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Illinois State University is larger than than UM-Dearborn based on total student enrollment (20,989 students vs. 8,035 students)

ISU vs. UM-Dearborn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or UM-Dearborn?

  • University of Michigan Dearborn is 20.5% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($14,544.00 vs. $12,066.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 28.3% higher at UM-Dearborn than Illinois State University ($30,960.00 vs. $24,131.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Michigan Dearborn than ISU ($12,798 vs. $20,871)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Dearborn are 7.2% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($10,803 vs. $11,584)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University as University of Michigan Dearborn (96% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 21.3% larger than aid received University of Michigan Dearborn ($11,590 vs. $9,552)

ISU vs. UM-Dearborn Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Michigan Dearborn (1105) is 15 points higher than at ISU (1090)
  • Incoming ISU students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at UM-Dearborn (24)
  • Accepted freshman UM-Dearborn 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 UM-Dearborn (58.6%)

ISU vs. UM-Dearborn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ISU or UM-Dearborn? 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 UM-Dearborn and ISU.

  • The graduation rate at ISU is higher than University of Michigan Dearborn (71% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Dearborn earn on average $3,800 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($52,800 vs. $49,000)
  • Illinois State University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than UM-Dearborn graduates. ($22,000 vs. $25,750)
  • ISU graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than UM-Dearborn graduates. ($227 vs. $266)
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UM-Dearborn students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 46%)

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