ISU Demographics & Diversity

6/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Normal, IL
4.8 4 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Illinois

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Racial Demographics & Diversity

Racial Diversity

Low

Racial Diversity Index: 39%

Racial diversity is the chance that two students chosen at random are from different racial or ethnic groups, using the U.S. Census Bureau Diversity Index. Students at ISU are mostly White with a small Hispanic population. The school has low racial diversity. 23% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.

Racial demographics of Illinois State University students
Race	Percent of Students
White	77%
Black	8%
Hispanic	9%
Asian	2%
American Indian / Alaskan	0%
Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	0%
Two or more races	3%
International	0%
Race Unknown	0%

Gender Demographics & Diversity

Gender Diversity

Very High

Gender Diversity Index: 49%

There are 39% more female students than male students enrolled at Illinois State University with a gender ratio of 58% women to 42% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, ISU has a higher gender diversity than other US colleges and is very inclusive of both genders.

Male to female gender ratio for Illinois State University students
Gender	Percent of Students
Men	42%
Women	58%

Enrollment by gender for Illinois State University students
Gender	Number of Students
Men	8,998
Women	12,548

Geographic Diversity

Extremely Low

Geographic Diversity Index: 4%

ISU draws 96 percent of students from Illinois, 3 percent from other states, and 1 percent from other countries. Geographic diversity is the share of students from outside Illinois, including other U.S. states and other countries.

Enrollment by geographic location for Illinois State University students
Origin	Percent of Students
In State	96%
Out of State	3%
Foreign	1%
Unknown Location	0%

Economic Diversity

Median Household Income

$74,746 per year

39% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.

Total Enrollment

Total enrollment

21,546

Share of undergraduates by age and part-time status
Segment	Percent of Students
Students Over 25 Years Old	5.5%
Part-time undergraduates	6.8%

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Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=145813.

Racial and gender diversity ratings use the U.S. Census Bureau Diversity Index (Gini-Simpson): the probability that two students chosen at random belong to different groups. See the Census method note, Measuring Racial and Ethnic Diversity for the 2020 Census. Geographic diversity is the share of students from outside the college's home state (other U.S. states plus international). IPEDS does not publish enrollment by individual state of residence.

Last updated: August 2026