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| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Illinois State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UALR | ISU | ||
| Location | Little Rock, AR | Normal, IL | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 8,197 | 20,683 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #686 | #493 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ualr.edu | illinoisstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UALR | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,729 | $11,840 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $16,320 | $23,681 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,162 | $10,602 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,173 | $20,551 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,494 | $11,619 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 97% |
Admission |
UALR | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,568 | 19,596 | ||
| Admitted | 2,193 | 16,899 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 61.5% | 86.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 25% | 23.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.41 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 970/1220 | 1000/1210 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 17, 2025 | Apr 1, 2025 |
Academics |
UALR | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 19:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
UALR | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 21% | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $38,000 | $49,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 51% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $227 |
Diversity |
UALR | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 52% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 27% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 9% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
UALR | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 96% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 10% | 3% | ||
Campus |
UALR | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than UALR based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 8,197 students)
UALR vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UALR or ISU?
- Illinois State University is 106.7% more expensive to attend than UALR for in-state tuition ($11,840.00 vs. $5,729.00)
- Out of state tuition is 45.1% higher at ISU than University of Arkansas at Little Rock ($23,681.00 vs. $16,320.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Arkansas at Little Rock than ISU ($11,173 vs. $20,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas at Little Rock are 15.7% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($9,162 vs. $10,602)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than University of Arkansas at Little Rock (97% vs. 92%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 10.7% larger than aid received University of Arkansas at Little Rock ($11,619 vs. $10,494)
UALR vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UALR or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or UALR .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 100 points higher than at UALR (990)
- Incoming ISU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at UALR (21)
- Accepted freshman UALR students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at ISU (3.41)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than UALR (61.5%)
UALR vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UALR or ISU? 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 ISU and UALR.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than University of Arkansas at Little Rock (71% vs. 21%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $11,000 more per year than UALR graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $38,000)
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $22,000)
- UALR 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 UALR students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 51%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/