About

About Illinois State University

public doctoral universityeducation programsaccessible admissionshealth sciences focuslarge midwestern campus

Illinois State University is a public research university in Normal, IL, known for its education programs, accessible admissions, and health sciences focus. With an acceptance rate of 86%, ISU is accessible for most qualified applicants, typically enrolling around 3,983 students each year. ISU is test optional; students who submit scores are typically admitted with SATs between 1010–1210, though many competitive applicants choose not to submit. ISU offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $12,185 per year; the sticker price of $41,004 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

Illinois State University acceptance rate and admitted student profile

accessible for most qualified applicants

86%
Overall Accept Rate
2.00
Typical Admitted GPA
1110
Median Admitted SAT
SATSubmitted score range: 1010 – 1210 (test optional)

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Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to Illinois State University

Essay Strategy
Illinois State rates essays as low importance in their process, so spend more of your prep time making sure your GPA and course rigor are solid rather than agonizing over essay drafts.
Demonstrated Interest
Illinois State does not track demonstrated interest in their admissions decisions, so skip the campus visit box-checking and focus your energy on the parts of your application that actually move the needle, like your grades and activities.

Financial Aid & Cost

What Illinois State University actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceAvg. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$41k/yr$11.6k
30k-48k~$41k/yr$12.3k
48k-75k~$41k/yr$16.3k
75k-110k~$41k/yr$23.9k
110k+~$41k/yr$28.2k

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

66%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$51k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
19:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
16,607
Undergrad Enrollment

Student Body

Student body composition

Race & Ethnicity

64%White
14%Hispanic
14%Black / African American
4%Two or More Races
3%Asian
1%International
1%Unknown / Unreported
0%American Indian / AK Native
0%Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
Gender43% Men · 57% Women
Citizenship / Immigration Status99% Citizens and Immigrants · 1% International
ISU, Normal Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch