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UNCW Northern Illinois ECU Illinois WCU University of North Carolina at Asheville NC State UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill UIC JMU Tennessee| Illinois State University | Appalachian State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | ASU | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Boone, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 20,683 | 20,436 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #493 | #594 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | appstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | ASU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,840 | $4,242 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $23,681 | $20,246 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,602 | $11,582 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,551 | $13,084 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,619 | $7,443 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 47% |
Admission |
ISU | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,596 | 22,255 | ||
| Admitted | 16,899 | 18,489 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.2% | 83.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.6% | 21.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.96 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1000/1210 | 1100/1270 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Apr 1, 2024 | Feb 1, 2024 |
Academics |
ISU | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | ASU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 65% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $41,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $211 |
Diversity |
ISU | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 85% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
ISU | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 87% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 13% | ||
Campus |
ISU | ASU | ||
| 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 ASU based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 20,436 students)
ISU vs. ASU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or ASU?
- Illinois State University is 179.1% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($11,840.00 vs. $4,242.00)
- Out of state tuition is 17% higher at ISU than Appalachian State University ($23,681.00 vs. $20,246.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than ISU ($13,084 vs. $20,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 9.2% lower than costs at Appalachian State University ($10,602 vs. $11,582)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than Appalachian State University (97% vs. 47%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 56.1% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($11,619 vs. $7,443)
ISU vs. ASU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or ASU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ASU or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 67 points higher than at ISU (1090)
- Incoming ASU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at ISU (24)
- Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at ISU (3.41)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than ASU (83.1%)
ISU vs. ASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or ASU? 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 ASU and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Appalachian State University (71% vs. 65%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $7,400 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $41,600)
- Appalachian State University students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $22,000)
- ASU graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($211 vs. $227)
- More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/