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Illinois State University

Illinois State University is a public university in a midsize suburb of the Bloomington, IL metro with 18,450 students and a 88% acceptance rate.

Normal, Illinois · Public · Suburb, midsize · 18,450 students · R2 research university

NCAA Division I · Missouri Valley Conference

Admission rate

88%

of applicants admitted

SAT average

1,113

combined, admitted students

ACT, middle half

22–27

25th to 75th percentile

Average net price

$19,398

per year, after grants

Graduation rate

65%

within 6 years

Freshman retention

81%

return for sophomore year

Median earnings

$62,117

10 years after entry

Students

18,450

total enrollment

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS) · data snapshot October 2, 2026 · Updated October 2, 2026

First-year deadlines, 2026–27

PlanDeadline
Priority deadline
Apply by this date for the best chance at aid or a place; later applications may still be read.		November 1, 2026
Rolling admission
The college reviews applications as they arrive until the class is full.		April 1, 2027

Plans are listed in calendar order. What the plans mean

Source: illinoisstate.edu · checked September 19, 2026

What families actually pay

Average yearly net price after grants, in-state students, by family income

$0–30,000$11,568
$30,001–48,000$12,301
$48,001–75,000$16,348
$75,001–110,000$23,865
Over $110,000$28,224

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, College Scorecard · data snapshot October 2, 2026

AP credit

Most-taken exams, lowest score that earns credit
ExamMin scoreIllinois State University courseCredits
Biology3BSC 101 3 hours
Chemistry3CHE 110 4 hours
Psychology3Social Science general education elective 3 hours
Statistics3MGT 100, POL 138 3 hours
Computer Science A3IT 168 4 hours
Macroeconomics3ECO 102 3 hours
Microeconomics3ECO 101 3 hours
World History: Modern3Humanities general education elective 3 hours
Show all 40 exams and every score level
ExamMin scoreCourseCredits
Biology3BSC 101 3 hours
Biology4BSC 196 and 197 8 hours
Chemistry3CHE 110 4 hours
Chemistry4CHE 140 4 hours
Chemistry5CHE 140, 141 8 hours
Psychology3Social Science general education elective 3 hours
Psychology4PSY 110 3 hours
Statistics3MGT 100, POL 138 3 hours
Computer Science A3IT 168 4 hours
Macroeconomics3ECO 102 3 hours
Microeconomics3ECO 101 3 hours
World History: Modern3Humanities general education elective 3 hours
World History: Modern4HIS 105 3 hours
Environmental Science3HSC 156 3 hours
European History3Humanities general education elective 3 hours
European History4HIS 101 and 102 6 hours
Human Geography3elective credit 3 hours
Human Geography4GEO 142 3 hours
Spanish Language and Culture3SPA 112 4 hours
Spanish Language and Culture4SPA 112, 115 8 hours
Spanish Language and Culture5SPA 115, 116 8 hours
Computer Science Principles3IT 140 3 hours
Art History3ART 155, 156 6 hours
Music Theory3MUS 100A01 1 hour
Music Theory4MUS 101, 107 3 hours
2D Art and Design3ART 103 3 hours
3D Art and Design3ART 109 3 hours
African American Studies3HIS 111 3 hours
Calculus Test AB3MAT 145 4 hours
Calculus Test BC3MAT 145 and 146 8 hours
Chinese Language and Culture3CHI 112 4 hours
Chinese Language and Culture4CHI 112, 115 8 hours
Comparative Government and Politics3POL 140 3 hours
Drawing3ART 104 3 hours
English Lang-Comp3ENG 101 3 hours
English Lit-Comp3elective credit 3 hours
English Lit-Comp4ENG 125 3 hours
French Language and Culture3FRE 112 4 hours
French Language and Culture4FRE 112, 115 8 hours
French Language and Culture5FRE 115, 116 8 hours
German Language and Culture3GER 112 4 hours
German Language and Culture4GER 112, 115 8 hours
German Language and Culture5GER 115, 116 8 hours
Italian Language and Culture3ITA 112 4 hours
Italian Language and Culture4ITA 112, 115 8 hours
Italian Language and Culture5ITA 115, 116 8 hours
Japanese Language and Culture3JPN 112 4 hours
Japanese Language and Culture4JPN 112, 115 8 hours
Japanese Language and Culture5JPN 115, 116 8 hours
Latin3LAT 112 4 hours
Latin4LAT 112, 115 8 hours
Physics Test 13PHY 108 5 hours
Physics Test 23PHY 109 5 hours
Physics Test C, E and M3PHY 111 4 hours
Physics Test C, MECH3PHY 110 4 hours
Precalculus3MAT 144 4 hours
Research3elective 3 hours
Seminar3elective 3 hours
Spanish Literature and Culture3SPA 233 3 hours
U.S. Government and Politics3POL 106 3 hours
U.S. History3U.S. Traditions general education elective 3 hours
U.S. History4HIS 135, 136 6 hours

Source: catalog.illinoisstate.edu · checked September 19, 2026

Biggest majors

MajorGraduates
Elementary Education and Teaching320
Marketing/Marketing Management257
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse228
Special Education and Teaching194
Psychology177
Business Administration and Management163
Finance158
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies156
Show the other 69 majors
Accounting128
Speech Communication and Rhetoric119
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies114
Early Childhood Education and Teaching114
Biology/Biological Sciences109
History105
Management Science104
Agriculture99
English Language and Literature95
Exercise Science and Kinesiology94
Computer Science87
Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist86
Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance74
Art/Art Studies74
Political Science and Government72
Sociology66
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching62
Mass Communication/Media Studies62
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts62
Mathematics62
Construction Management59
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management54
Social Work50
International Business/Trade/Commerce44
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching43
Public Relations/Image Management41
Computer Software and Media Applications, Other37
Journalism36
Management Information Systems35
Music Teacher Education33
Interior Design32
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist31
Human Development and Family Studies31
Engineering Technologies/Technicians29
Dietetics/Dietitian29
Health Teacher Education27
Apparel and Textiles26
Information Technology26
Insurance25
Economics23
Geography22
Music Performance20
Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology20
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences20
Chemistry19
Health Information/Medical Records Administration/Administrator17
Anthropology16
Fine/Studio Arts16
Spanish Language and Literature16
Physics15
Energy Systems Technology/Technician15
Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other14
Music14
Geology/Earth Science14
Legal Assistant/Paralegal14
Biology Teacher Education13
Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene12
Graphic Communications12
Environmental Science10
Philosophy9
Industrial Technology/Technician9
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications9
Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education7
General Studies7
Biochemistry6
Business and Innovation/Entrepreneurship Teacher Education5
Environmental Health4
French Language and Literature4
German Language and Literature1

Bachelor’s graduates, first major, most recent year · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Sports and campus life

Men’s varsity · NCAA Division I, Missouri Valley Conference

Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Tennis, Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)

Women’s varsity · NCAA Division I, Missouri Valley Conference

Basketball, Golf, Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving (combined), Tennis, Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), Volleyball

ROTC

Army

Faith groups

Cru, InterVarsity, Newman Connection

Also

Study abroad

Greek life

4% of men in fraternities · 7% of women in sororities · 6% of undergraduates overall (Common Data Set 2024–25)

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education athletics data (EADA), Common Data Set (Greek life), sites.google.com · checked September 4, 2026 · data snapshot October 2, 2026

The place

Setting

Suburb, midsize

Federal locale classification

Metro area

Bloomington, IL

172,069 people

Big-city metro (1 million+)

No

More about the place

Nearest airport

Central Il Regional/Bloomington-Normal (BMI)

Nearest hub airport

Chicago Midway International (MDW)

Walkability

EPA walkability index 15.5 of 20

Elevation

788 ft

Time zone

Central

January low

16°F

July high

86°F

Annual snowfall

6.5 in

Days at 90°F or higher

26 per year

One-bedroom fair market rent

$1,000 per month

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS locale), U.S. Census metro estimates, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, EPA walkability · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Colleges nearby

Straight-line distance between campuses

Similar colleges

Public, suburban campus, NCAA Division I, similar size