C+
Above Average
Score: 61/100
Overall (traditional)
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
20,989
Total Enrollment
66%
Graduation Rate
81%
Retention Rate
19.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
89%
Acceptance Rate
$20,871
Avg Net Price
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Illinois State University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
$62,117
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$50,599
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$20,482
Median debt at graduation
64.5%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,113
Average SAT
24
Median ACT
32.1%
Students receiving Pell grants
Typical debt at graduation equals about 33% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 69th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (IL wage index 1.04). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Illinois State University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $81,363 | $111,099 | +4% | #111 of 349 | #120 | $22,043 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $65,127 | $98,382 | +7% | #128 of 459 | #158 | $20,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $52,887 | $95,120 | +14% | #36 of 166 | #43 | $17,000 |
| Insurance | $51,499 | $94,124 | +6% | #8 of 21 | #11 | $19,000 |
| Construction Management | $70,672 | $91,017 | -4% | #38 of 57 | #44 | $19,757 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $66,801 | $90,953 | +24% | #7 of 37 | #8 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $54,958 | $85,326 | +2% | #136 of 452 | #173 | $18,625 |
| Public Health | $59,207 | $84,790 | +44% | #7 of 215 | #6 | $20,009 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $62,940 | $84,458 | +11% | #188 of 796 | #232 | $20,299 |
| Physics | — | $81,949 | +7% | #42 of 107 | #42 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $72,709 | $81,264 | -9% | #679 of 966 | #840 | $19,500 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $55,532 | $80,530 | +0% | #13 of 34 | #25 | $17,750 |
| Marketing | $51,687 | $77,956 | +12% | #93 of 516 | #112 | $19,472 |
| Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians | $46,992 | $76,731 | -10% | — | — | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $51,839 | $76,121 | -6% | #38 of 51 | #41 | $16,000 |
| Mathematics | $52,597 | $75,318 | +8% | #114 of 309 | #117 | $19,750 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $65,629 | $73,220 | -4% | #56 of 93 | #71 | $23,927 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $48,886 | $71,707 | +22% | #61 of 275 | #61 | $20,084 |
| International Business | $52,491 | $71,058 | -3% | #68 of 115 | #77 | $19,119 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $47,553 | $70,671 | -18% | #103 of 126 | #106 | $21,500 |
| Geography and Cartography | $34,952 | $69,383 | +20% | #15 of 117 | #16 | $16,750 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $43,874 | $67,752 | +7% | #53 of 178 | #68 | $21,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $50,647 | $66,660 | -2% | #496 of 1176 | #607 | $15,000 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $34,154 | $65,669 | -2% | #23 of 35 | #19 | $22,500 |
| Biology | $36,337 | $63,725 | +11% | #224 of 841 | #259 | $20,989 |
| Agriculture | $47,295 | $63,600 | +18% | #5 of 43 | #6 | $15,750 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | — | $62,510 | +6% | #59 of 215 | #92 | $19,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $37,584 | $62,506 | +13% | #91 of 660 | #127 | $19,000 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $37,111 | $62,339 | +8% | #16 of 57 | #25 | $19,375 |
| Chemistry | — | $62,220 | -4% | #144 of 209 | #158 | $22,588 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $30,051 | $62,112 | +14% | #91 of 610 | #128 | $19,700 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $39,287 | $61,628 | +20% | #63 of 299 | #75 | $24,375 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $38,125 | $60,414 | +7% | #162 of 660 | #176 | $19,500 |
| Legal Support Services | — | $59,943 | +13% | #6 of 32 | #11 | — |
| Political Science and Government | $34,519 | $59,571 | -6% | #330 of 565 | #348 | $20,500 |
| Graphic Communications | — | $55,723 | +29% | #13 of 59 | #13 | — |
| Journalism | $36,643 | $55,641 | -1% | #88 of 187 | #93 | $20,750 |
| Social Work | $39,041 | $55,089 | +6% | #132 of 420 | #179 | $24,890 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $39,104 | $55,032 | +9% | #10 of 55 | #16 | $19,236 |
| Music | $32,853 | $54,767 | +28% | #33 of 268 | #36 | $20,500 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $38,444 | $54,604 | -2% | #47 of 70 | #57 | $17,750 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $44,613 | $54,452 | +6% | #95 of 345 | #150 | $20,875 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | — | $53,272 | -11% | #115 of 138 | #120 | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | $48,358 | $52,864 | +5% | #70 of 177 | #104 | $19,500 |
| History | $40,465 | $52,757 | +4% | #191 of 459 | #203 | $21,500 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $33,682 | $52,748 | +9% | #39 of 172 | #48 | $20,500 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | $52,417 | -26% | #218 of 253 | #228 | $23,000 |
| Psychology | $32,104 | $51,941 | +2% | #400 of 1027 | #461 | $20,500 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | $48,974 | $51,806 | +7% | #11 of 49 | #14 | $19,653 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $35,967 | $51,386 | +24% | #42 of 423 | #46 | $17,750 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
🏆 Where Illinois State University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $11,000 | $20,358 |
| Room | $5,970 | |
| Board | $5,056 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $34,309 | $46,374 |
Financial Aid
98%
Receive Any Aid
34%
Receive Pell Grants
47%
Take Out Loans
$20,871
Avg Net Price
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,075 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,994 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,424 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,818 |
| $110,001+ | $26,853 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Elementary Education and Teaching
320 grads/yr
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
261 grads/yr
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
253 grads/yr
Business Administration and Management, General
229 grads/yr
Special Education and Teaching, General
225 grads/yr
Psychology, General
192 grads/yr
Computer Science
187 grads/yr
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
171 grads/yr
Accounting
166 grads/yr
Finance, General
166 grads/yr
Speech Communication and Rhetoric
145 grads/yr
Management Science
133 grads/yr
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
132 grads/yr
Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
127 grads/yr
History, General
122 grads/yr
Agriculture, General
114 grads/yr
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
114 grads/yr
Dietetics/Dietitian
114 grads/yr
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
114 grads/yr
Computer Software and Media Applications, Other
113 grads/yr
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Illinois State University's top programs commonly pursue.
Education teachers, postsecondary
$72k/yr
74,900 jobs
Elementary school teachers, except special education
$62k/yr
1,422,700 jobs
Marketing managers
$161k/yr
407,000 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr
619,500 jobs
Advertising and promotions managers
$127k/yr
27,000 jobs
Fundraising managers
$123k/yr
45,700 jobs
Business teachers, postsecondary
$97k/yr
103,100 jobs
Market research analysts and marketing specialists
$77k/yr
941,700 jobs
Student Demographics
20,989
Total Students
58%
Women
95%
Traditional Age (18-24)
👥 Race & Ethnicity
White
65%
Hispanic
13%
Black
11%
Asian
3%
Two or More
4%
Non-Resident
4%
🏠 Living Arrangements
On Campus
100%
💻 Learning Mode
In-Person
61%
Hybrid (Some Online)
34%
Fully Online
6%
📊 Age Distribution
18-24 (Traditional)
95%
25-64 (Adult)
4%
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Illinois State University?
Illinois State University has an acceptance rate of 89%.
This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Illinois State University?
Tuition at Illinois State University is
$11,000 for in-state students
and $20,358 for out-of-state students
.
However, the average net price after financial aid is $20,871.
What is the graduation rate at Illinois State University?
The graduation rate at Illinois State University is 66%.
This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is Illinois State University a good school?
Illinois State University has a Repit College Score of 61/100 (Grade: C+).
Our rating evaluates five key factors:
- Outcomes (B+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Illinois State University?
Illinois State University has a total enrollment of 20,989 students.
Most students (95%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Illinois State University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to Illinois State University
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology