PublicSuburbanIllinois State University
Normal, Illinois 61790-1000
Data last updated: August 29, 2026
Known for business
Illinois State University is a public institution in Normal with particular strength in business and health sciences. With an average SAT of 1127, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.
A large campus of 18.4K undergraduates with a 19:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.
66% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $62,117 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $18,996.
Rankings
More About This School
History & Fun Facts
- •History ISU was founded in 1857, the same year Illinois' first Board of Education was convened and two years after the Free School Act was passed by the state legislature.
- •Founded as Illinois State Normal University, it was the first state university in Illinois.
- •With the completion of Old Main in 1860, the school moved to its current campus in what was then the village of North Bloomington, which was chartered as the town of "Normal" in 1865.
- •On January 1, 1964, the institution's name was changed to Illinois State University at Normal, and then again in 1967 to the current Illinois State University.
- •In January 2023, the university announced that Thomas Keyser would be the first dean of the College of Engineering, which was set to welcome its first students in 2025.
Source: Wikipedia
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Admissions
SAT Score Ranges
Average: 1127
ACT Score Range
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.
Deadline Calendar
Typical Application Requirements
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker Price
Net Price by Family Income
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.
Debt & Aid Detail
Net Price Trend
Tuition Trend
Graduate w/ Zero Debt
55.0%
Avg Tuition Increase
1.9%/yr
Median Debt at Grad
$15,750
Programs (138)
Outcomes
Median Earnings After Graduation
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.
Student Life
Student Satisfaction
Retention Rate
81%
Student Body
Race & Ethnicity
Campus Safety
Total Incidents (2024)
131
Peer Average
92
3-Year Trend
Emergency System
24/7 campus police department, blue-light phone network, emergency mass notification system
Incident Breakdown (2024)
Burglary
Aggravated Assault
Robbery
Motor Vehicle Theft
Sex Offenses
Arson
Drug Arrests
Liquor Arrests
Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).
Location & Lifestyle
Cost of Living
Estimated from IL state average + suburban adjustment