DePaul vs. ISU

Deciding between DePaul University and Illinois State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

DePaul University
Illinois State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • DePaul Chicago, IL
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • Setting
  • DePaul Large City
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • DePaul 21,210
  • ISU 21,546
  • Type
  • DePaul Private 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DePaul #253
  • ISU #502
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DePaul Roman Catholic
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • DePaul Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DePaul
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • ISU $16,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • ISU $28,210
  • Room & Board
  • DePaul $19,095
  • ISU $11,754
  • Average Net Price
  • DePaul $34,135
  • ISU $21,369
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DePaul $29,285
  • ISU $12,974
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DePaul 100%
  • ISU 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DePaul 31,266
  • ISU 21,573
  • Admitted
  • DePaul 23,729
  • ISU 19,017
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DePaul 75.9%
  • ISU 88.2%
  • Enrolled
  • DePaul 10.8%
  • ISU 22.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DePaul 1240
  • ISU 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • DePaul 28
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • DePaul 3.8
  • ISU 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DePaul A-
  • ISU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • DePaul Difficult
  • ISU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • DePaul
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • DePaul 25/31
  • ISU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • DePaul 1140/1330
  • ISU 990/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DePaul Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • DePaul Feb 1, 2027
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DePaul 17:1
  • ISU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DePaul
    • Business (33%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DePaul 66%
  • ISU 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DePaul $56,900
  • ISU $49,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DePaul 62%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DePaul $23,332
  • ISU $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DePaul $241
  • ISU $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DePaul 45%
  • ISU 42%
  • % Women
  • DePaul 55%
  • ISU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DePaul High
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • DePaul No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • DePaul 55%
  • ISU 77%
  • % Asian
  • DePaul 8%
  • ISU 2%
  • % Black
  • DePaul 8%
  • ISU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • DePaul 18%
  • ISU 9%
  • % Native American
  • DePaul 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DePaul 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DePaul 4%
  • ISU 3%
  • % International
  • DePaul 3%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DePaul 4%
  • ISU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DePaul 64%
  • ISU 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DePaul 32%
  • ISU 3%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • DePaul Yes
  • ISU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • DePaul No
  • ISU No
  • Meal Plan
  • DePaul Yes
  • ISU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • DePaul Yes
  • ISU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • DePaul No
  • ISU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare DePaul University in Chicago, IL with Illinois State University in Normal, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois State University is larger than DePaul based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 21,210 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • DePaul University is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Illinois State University is in Normal, IL (Small City setting).
  • DePaul University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: DePaul University 17:1; Illinois State University 19:1.

DePaul vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DePaul or ISU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois State University than DePaul ($21,369 vs. $34,135).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 38.4% lower than at DePaul University ($11,754 vs. $19,095).
  • DePaul University is 184.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $29,855 more per year; $45,999.00 vs. $16,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 63.1% higher at DePaul than at Illinois State University (about $17,789 more per year; $45,999.00 vs. $28,210.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at DePaul University than at Illinois State University (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by DePaul University students is 125.7% larger than aid received by Illinois State University students ($29,285 vs. $12,974).

DePaul vs. ISU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DePaul or ISU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between ISU and DePaul.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at DePaul University (1240) is 140 points higher than at ISU (1100).
  • Incoming DePaul students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePaul University 1140/1330; Illinois State University 990/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePaul University 25/31; Illinois State University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DePaul - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DePaul Feb 1, 2027; ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman DePaul students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at ISU (3.41).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than DePaul (75.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.8% at DePaul vs. 22.5% at ISU.

DePaul vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DePaul and ISU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Illinois State University's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than DePaul University's (66%).
  • Graduates from DePaul University earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $1,332 lower median loan debt than DePaul graduates ($22,000 vs. $23,332).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DePaul graduates ($227 vs. $241).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DePaul students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.