Should I go to University of Arkansas or Illinois State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Arkansas or ISU 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.
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Northern Illinois Illinois Oklahoma State University-Main Campus OU UIC Ole Miss Alabama University of Missouri-Columbia DePaul Missouri State University-Springfield EIU IWUUniversity of Arkansas | Illinois State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Arkansas | ISU | ||
Location | Fayetteville, AR | Normal, IL | ||
Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
Enrollment | 30,936 | 20,683 | ||
Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
National Ranking | #458 | #493 | ||
Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
Website | uark.edu | illinoisstate.edu | ||
Team Colors |
Costs |
Arkansas | ISU | ||
Tuition (In State) | $7,666 | $11,840 | ||
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Tuition (Out of State) | $25,420 | $23,681 | ||
Room & Board | $12,368 | $10,602 | ||
Avg Net Price | $16,208 | $20,551 | ||
Avg Grant Aid | $8,474 | $11,619 | ||
% Receiving Grant Aid | 60% | 97% |
Admission |
Arkansas | ISU | ||
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Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
Applied | 26,219 | 19,596 | ||
Admitted | 20,695 | 16,899 | ||
Acceptance Rate | 78.9% | 86.2% | ||
Enrolled % | 34.3% | 23.6% | ||
Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.41 | ||
Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
Applicant Competition | ||||
ACT Range | 21/28 | 21/27 | ||
SAT Range | 1030/1220 | 1000/1210 | ||
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 | Aug 1, 2025 | Apr 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Arkansas | ISU | ||
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Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 19:1 | ||
Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
Arkansas | ISU | ||
Graduation Rate | 59% | 71% | ||
Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $50,400 | $49,000 | ||
Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 74% | ||
Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $22,000 | ||
Median Loan Payment | $222 | $227 |
Diversity |
Arkansas | ISU | ||
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% Men | 44% | 42% | ||
% Women | 56% | 58% | ||
Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
HBCU | No | No | ||
% White | 77% | 77% | ||
% Black | 5% | 8% | ||
% Hispanic | 8% | 9% | ||
% Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
% Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
% Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
% International | 3% | 0% | ||
% Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
Arkansas | ISU | ||
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% In-State | 39% | 96% | ||
% Out-of-State | 60% | 3% | ||
Campus |
Arkansas | ISU | ||
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 |
Which college is more expensive, Arkansas or ISU?
Which college is harder to get into, Arkansas or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or Arkansas .
Which is better, Arkansas 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 Arkansas.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/