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CU Boulder Colorado State Northern Illinois Illinois DU Metropolitan State College of Denver UCCS UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University| University of Colorado Denver | Illinois State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CU Denver | ISU | ||
| Location | Denver, CO | Normal, IL | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 23,744 | 20,683 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #387 | #493 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucdenver.edu | illinoisstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CU Denver | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,736 | $11,840 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,992 | $23,681 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,230 | $10,602 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,079 | $20,551 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,384 | $11,619 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 97% |
Admission |
CU Denver | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,631 | 19,596 | ||
| Admitted | 11,658 | 16,899 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.6% | 86.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.6% | 23.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.41 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1260 | 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 |
CU Denver | ISU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CU Denver | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 40% | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $68,200 | $49,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,190 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $227 |
Diversity |
CU Denver | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 19% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 8% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
CU Denver | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 82% | 96% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 15% | 3% | ||
Campus |
CU Denver | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Colorado Denver is larger than than ISU based on total student enrollment (23,744 students vs. 20,683 students)
CU Denver vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or ISU?
- Illinois State University is 35.5% more expensive to attend than CU Denver for in-state tuition ($11,840.00 vs. $8,736.00)
- Out of state tuition is 9.8% higher at CU Denver than Illinois State University ($25,992.00 vs. $23,681.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Colorado Denver than ISU ($16,079 vs. $20,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 34.2% lower than costs at University of Colorado Denver ($10,602 vs. $14,230)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than University of Colorado Denver (97% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 23.8% larger than aid received University of Colorado Denver ($11,619 vs. $9,384)
CU Denver vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CU Denver or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or CU Denver .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 35 points higher than at CU Denver (1055)
- Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at CU Denver (23)
- Accepted freshman CU Denver students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at ISU (3.41)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than CU Denver (74.6%)
CU Denver vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CU Denver 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 CU Denver.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than University of Colorado Denver (71% vs. 40%)
- Graduates from University of Colorado Denver earn on average $19,200 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($68,200 vs. $49,000)
- University of Colorado Denver students graduate with a $810 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($21,190 vs. $22,000)
- CU Denver graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($219 vs. $227)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Denver students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 61%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/