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Northern Illinois Illinois Sacramento State San Francisco State UIC Humboldt State University San Jose State UC Merced Cal State Fullerton Sonoma State University California State University-Fresno DePaul| California State University Chico | Illinois State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CSU | ISU | ||
| Location | Chico, CA | Normal, IL | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,183 | 20,683 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #659 | #493 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | csuchico.edu | illinoisstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CSU | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $11,840 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $23,681 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,212 | $10,602 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,517 | $20,551 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,162 | $11,619 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 97% |
Admission |
CSU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 21,417 | 19,596 | ||
| Admitted | 20,347 | 16,899 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95% | 86.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 9.9% | 23.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.37 | 3.41 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 970/1170 | 1000/1210 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Dec 15, 2023 | Apr 1, 2024 |
Academics |
CSU | ISU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CSU | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 59% | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $52,400 | $49,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,000 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $175 | $227 |
Diversity |
CSU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 46% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 29% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 0% |
Students |
CSU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 97% | 96% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 2% | 3% | ||
Campus |
CSU | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 14,183 students)
CSU vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CSU or ISU?
- Illinois State University is 106.2% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($11,840.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 34.4% higher at ISU than California State University Chico ($23,681.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Chico than ISU ($15,517 vs. $20,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 43.5% lower than costs at California State University Chico ($10,602 vs. $15,212)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than California State University Chico (97% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 26.8% larger than aid received California State University Chico ($11,619 vs. $9,162)
CSU vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CSU or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or CSU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 87 points higher than at CSU (1003)
- Incoming ISU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at CSU (22)
- Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at CSU (3.37)
- CSU has a higher acceptance rate (95%) than ISU (86.2%)
CSU vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CSU or ISU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ISU and CSU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than California State University Chico (71% vs. 59%)
- Graduates from California State University Chico earn on average $3,400 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($52,400 vs. $49,000)
- California State University Chico students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($17,000 vs. $22,000)
- CSU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($175 vs. $227)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 70%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/