Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Northern Illinois Illinois Purdue Calumet UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University WMU Bradley Southern Illinois University Purdue| Illinois State University | Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | IPFW | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Fort Wayne, IN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 20,989 | 8,874 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #501 | #864 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | ipfw.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | IPFW | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,066 | $8,049 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,131 | $21,015 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,584 | $10,332 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,871 | $12,619 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,590 | $6,589 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 99% |
Admission |
ISU | IPFW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 20,884 | 6,466 | ||
| Admitted | 18,589 | 5,539 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89% | 85.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.3% | 24.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.37 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/27 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1230 | 960/1190 | ||
| 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, 2025 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
ISU | IPFW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 13:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
ISU | IPFW | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 26% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $38,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 51% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $24,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $253 |
Diversity |
ISU | IPFW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
ISU | IPFW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 13% | ||
Campus |
ISU | IPFW | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than IPFW based on total student enrollment (20,989 students vs. 8,874 students)
ISU vs. IPFW Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or IPFW?
- Illinois State University is 49.9% more expensive to attend than IPFW for in-state tuition ($12,066.00 vs. $8,049.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.8% higher at ISU than Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne ($24,131.00 vs. $21,015.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne than ISU ($12,619 vs. $20,871)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne are 12.1% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($10,332 vs. $11,584)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne than Illinois State University (99% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 75.9% larger than aid received Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne ($11,590 vs. $6,589)
ISU vs. IPFW Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or IPFW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between IPFW or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 95 points higher than at IPFW (995)
- Incoming ISU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at IPFW (22)
- Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at IPFW (3.37)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than IPFW (85.7%)
ISU vs. IPFW Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or IPFW? 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 IPFW and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne (71% vs. 26%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $10,400 more per year than IPFW graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $38,600)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than IPFW graduates. ($22,000 vs. $24,500)
- ISU graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than IPFW graduates. ($227 vs. $253)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IPFW students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 51%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/