ISU vs. UNLV

Should I go to Illinois State University or University of Nevada Las Vegas? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ISU or UNLV 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 Illinois University of Nevada-Reno UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University WMU Bradley Southern Illinois University IIT
Illinois State University vs. University of Nevada Las Vegas comparison
Illinois State University University of Nevada Las Vegas College 3 College 4
Illinois State University University of Nevada Las Vegas
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

ISU UNLV
Location Normal, IL Las Vegas, NV
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 20,683 30,660
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #493 #609
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinoisstate.edu unlv.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ISU UNLV
Tuition (In State) $11,840 $8,159
Tuition (Out of State) $23,681 $24,701
Room & Board $10,602 $11,512
Avg Net Price $20,551 $13,159
Avg Grant Aid $11,619 $6,346
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 89%

Admission

ISU UNLV
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,596 13,275
Admitted 16,899 11,325
Acceptance Rate 86.2% 85.3%
Enrolled % 23.6% 38.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 18/24
SAT Range 1000/1210 1000/1220
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 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

ISU UNLV
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

ISU UNLV
Graduation Rate 71% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $47,600
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 52%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $19,018
Median Loan Payment $227 $196

Diversity

ISU UNLV
% Men 42% 43%
% Women 58% 57%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 77% 35%
% Black 8% 8%
% Hispanic 9% 26%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 9%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

ISU UNLV
% In-State 96% 82%
% Out-of-State 3% 16%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Nevada Las Vegas is larger than than ISU based on total student enrollment (30,660 students vs. 20,683 students)

ISU vs. UNLV Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or UNLV?

  • Illinois State University is 45.1% more expensive to attend than UNLV for in-state tuition ($11,840.00 vs. $8,159.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.3% higher at UNLV than Illinois State University ($24,701.00 vs. $23,681.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Nevada Las Vegas than ISU ($13,159 vs. $20,551)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 8.6% lower than costs at University of Nevada Las Vegas ($10,602 vs. $11,512)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than University of Nevada Las Vegas (97% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 83.1% larger than aid received University of Nevada Las Vegas ($11,619 vs. $6,346)

ISU vs. UNLV Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 83 points higher than at UNLV (1007)
  • Incoming ISU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at UNLV (22)
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at UNLV (3.4)
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than UNLV (85.3%)

ISU vs. UNLV Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ISU or UNLV? 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 UNLV and ISU.

  • The graduation rate at ISU is higher than University of Nevada Las Vegas (71% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $1,400 more per year than UNLV graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $47,600)
  • University of Nevada Las Vegas students graduate with a $2,982 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($19,018 vs. $22,000)
  • UNLV graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($196 vs. $227)
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNLV students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 52%)

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