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 | VanderCook College of Music | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | VCM | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Chicago, IL | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 20,989 | 340 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #501 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | vandercook.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | VCM | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,066 | $28,640 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,131 | $28,640 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,584 | $7,500 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,871 | $16,601 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,590 | $22,249 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 100% |
Admission |
ISU | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 20,884 | 37 | ||
| Admitted | 18,589 | 36 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89% | 97.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.3% | 47.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.1 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/27 | 15/20 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1230 | 890/1160 | ||
| 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 | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 4:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
ISU | VCM | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 66% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $279 |
Diversity |
ISU | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 32% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 39% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 21% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
ISU | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 58% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 42% | ||
Campus |
ISU | VCM | ||
| 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 VCM based on total student enrollment (20,989 students vs. 340 students)
ISU vs. VCM Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or VCM?
- VanderCook College of Music is 137.4% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($28,640.00 vs. $12,066.00)
- Out of state tuition is 18.7% higher at VCM than Illinois State University ($28,640.00 vs. $24,131.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at VanderCook College of Music than ISU ($16,601 vs. $20,871)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at VanderCook College of Music are 54.5% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($7,500 vs. $11,584)
- More students receive financial grant aid at VanderCook College of Music than Illinois State University (100% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by VanderCook College of Music students is 92% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($22,249 vs. $11,590)
ISU vs. VCM Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or VCM? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCM or ISU .
- The average SAT score at VanderCook College of Music (1107) is 17 points higher than at ISU (1090)
- Incoming VCM students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at ISU (24)
- Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at VCM (3.1)
- VCM has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than ISU (89%)
ISU vs. VCM Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or VCM? 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 VCM and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than VanderCook College of Music (71% vs. 45%)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than VCM graduates. ($22,000 vs. $27,000)
- ISU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than VCM graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCM 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/