FAU vs. ISU

Deciding between Florida Atlantic 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.

Florida Atlantic University
Illinois State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • FAU Boca Raton, FL
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • Setting
  • FAU Small City
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • FAU 31,607
  • ISU 21,546
  • Type
  • FAU Public 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • FAU #657
  • ISU #502
  • Religious Affiliation
  • FAU -
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • FAU Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • FAU
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • FAU $4,879
  • ISU $16,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • FAU $17,324
  • ISU $28,210
  • Room & Board
  • FAU $15,860
  • ISU $11,754
  • Average Net Price
  • FAU $10,225
  • ISU $21,369
  • Average Grant Aid
  • FAU $10,857
  • ISU $12,974
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • FAU 86%
  • ISU 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • FAU 31,511
  • ISU 21,573
  • Admitted
  • FAU 20,838
  • ISU 19,017
  • Acceptance Rate
  • FAU 66.1%
  • ISU 88.2%
  • Enrolled
  • FAU 20.3%
  • ISU 22.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • FAU 1120
  • ISU 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • FAU 23
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • FAU 3.74
  • ISU 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • FAU A-
  • ISU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • FAU Moderate
  • ISU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • FAU Low
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • FAU 21/26
  • ISU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • FAU 1040/1200
  • ISU 990/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • FAU Required
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • FAU May 1, 2027
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • FAU 24:1
  • ISU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • FAU
    • Business (27%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • FAU 43%
  • ISU 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • FAU $46,200
  • ISU $49,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • FAU 54%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • FAU $16,861
  • ISU $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • FAU $174
  • ISU $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • FAU 43%
  • ISU 42%
  • % Women
  • FAU 57%
  • ISU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • FAU High
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • FAU No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • FAU 43%
  • ISU 77%
  • % Asian
  • FAU 4%
  • ISU 2%
  • % Black
  • FAU 20%
  • ISU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • FAU 26%
  • ISU 9%
  • % Native American
  • FAU 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • FAU 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • FAU 4%
  • ISU 3%
  • % International
  • FAU 2%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • FAU 1%
  • ISU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • FAU 78%
  • ISU 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • FAU 19%
  • ISU 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL with Illinois State University in Normal, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida Atlantic University is larger than ISU based on total student enrollment (31,607 students vs. 21,546 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Florida Atlantic University is located in Boca Raton, FL (Small City setting); Illinois State University is in Normal, IL (Small City setting).
  • Florida Atlantic University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida Atlantic University 24:1; Illinois State University 19:1.

FAU vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FAU 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 Florida Atlantic University than ISU ($10,225 vs. $21,369).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 25.9% lower than at Florida Atlantic University ($11,754 vs. $15,860).
  • Illinois State University is 230.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than FAU (about $11,265 more per year; $16,144.00 vs. $4,879.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 62.8% higher at ISU than at Florida Atlantic University (about $10,886 more per year; $28,210.00 vs. $17,324.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois State University than at Florida Atlantic University (96% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 19.5% larger than aid received by Florida Atlantic University students ($12,974 vs. $10,857).

FAU vs. ISU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FAU 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 FAU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Florida Atlantic University (1120) is 20 points higher than at ISU (1100).
  • Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at FAU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Atlantic University 1040/1200; Illinois State University 990/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Atlantic University 21/26; Illinois State University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FAU - Required; ISU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: FAU May 1, 2027; ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman FAU students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at ISU (3.41).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than FAU (66.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.3% at FAU vs. 22.5% at ISU.

FAU vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FAU 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 Florida Atlantic University's (43%).
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than FAU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $46,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida Atlantic University graduates have a $5,139 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($16,861 vs. $22,000).
  • Among borrowers, FAU graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($174 vs. $227).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FAU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 54%)

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.