Illinois State acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
Illinois State University · Public · Normal, IL · 18,450 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
Illinois State admitted 89.0% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 68.9% in 2013. Illinois residents pay $16,152 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $28,218.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 68.9% | 15,354 | 10,582 |
| 2014 | 73.9% | 15,298 | 11,302 |
| 2015 | 87.7% | 12,139 | 10,648 |
| 2016 | 88.9% | 12,078 | 10,735 |
| 2017 | 89.1% | 11,592 | 10,332 |
| 2018 | 89.2% | 12,886 | 11,492 |
| 2019 | 81.9% | 16,151 | 13,234 |
| 2020 | 81.3% | 15,487 | 12,593 |
| 2021 | 91.5% | 11,913 | 10,905 |
| 2022 | 86.2% | 19,596 | 16,899 |
| 2023 | 89.0% | 20,884 | 18,589 |
Applications went from 15,354 in fall 2013 to 20,884 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $12,040 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $11,006 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $12,488 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $21,505 |
| Over $110,000 | $27,183 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $16,152 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $28,218 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $34,602 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $17,829 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 35% submitted the SAT, 10% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
What the numbers say
Of 20,884 applications for fall 2023, Illinois State accepted 18,589, or 89.0%.1 In 2013 only 68.9% were admitted, so the rate sits 20.1 percentage points higher.1 The rate went lower in 3 of the 10 yearly changes, and it was 91.5% in 2021.1 Admitted students grew 76% across the span, against 36% growth in applications.1
No test score is required, and the SAT reading and writing middle 50% in 2023 spanned 510 to 620.1 The undergraduate population stood at 18,450 in fall 2023.4
Illinois residents pay $16,152 in tuition and fees for 2025-26, with $28,218 charged to others.2 The state median across its 12 public bachelor's colleges is $13,668, below the resident price here.2 Net price in 2024-25 averaged $12,040 for families earning $0 to $30,000 and $21,505 for the $75,001 to $110,000 band.2 The top band, over $110,000, averaged $27,183.2
A graduation rate of 67% applies to 2019 entrants, while the Illinois median across 59 bachelor's colleges is 57%.2 Retention was 81% for fall 2023 entrants.2 Median earnings at 10 years after entry were $67,557, and finishing borrowers held median federal debt of $17,000.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 20,884 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 18,589 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 4,147 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 18,450 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 510 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 620 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 500 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 610 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 22 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 27 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 35% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 10% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $16,152 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $28,218 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $34,602 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $17,829 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $12,040 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $11,006 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $12,488 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $21,505 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $27,183 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 67% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 81% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 38% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $67,557 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $17,000 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Illinois (N = 12) | $13,668 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Illinois (N = 59) | 57% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with Illinois State, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page