CU Denver vs. ISU

Should I go to University of Colorado Denver or Illinois State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CU Denver 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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University of Colorado Denver vs. Illinois State University comparison
University of Colorado Denver Illinois State University College 3 College 4
University of Colorado Denver Illinois State University
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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
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
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Communication (5%)

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/