ISU vs. Loyola

Deciding between Illinois State University and Loyola University Chicago? 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.

Illinois State University
Loyola University Chicago

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • Loyola Chicago, IL
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • Loyola Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 21,546
  • Loyola 17,384
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • Loyola Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #502
  • Loyola #210
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • Loyola Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Loyola Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • Loyola

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $16,144
  • Loyola $53,710
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,210
  • Loyola $53,710
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $11,754
  • Loyola $17,010
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $21,369
  • Loyola $39,147
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $12,974
  • Loyola $28,816
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 96%
  • Loyola 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 21,573
  • Loyola 39,315
  • Admitted
  • ISU 19,017
  • Loyola 32,081
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.2%
  • Loyola 81.6%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 22.5%
  • Loyola 8.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1100
  • Loyola 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • Loyola 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • Loyola 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • Loyola A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Moderate
  • Loyola Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • Loyola
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/27
  • Loyola 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 990/1210
  • Loyola 1170/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • Loyola Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027
  • Loyola

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 19:1
  • Loyola 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Loyola
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 71%
  • Loyola 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $49,000
  • Loyola $59,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • Loyola 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,000
  • Loyola $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $227
  • Loyola $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 42%
  • Loyola 31%
  • % Women
  • ISU 58%
  • Loyola 69%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • Loyola High
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • Loyola No
  • % White
  • ISU 77%
  • Loyola 58%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 2%
  • Loyola 12%
  • % Black
  • ISU 8%
  • Loyola 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 9%
  • Loyola 14%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • Loyola 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • Loyola 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • Loyola 5%
  • % International
  • ISU 0%
  • Loyola 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 0%
  • Loyola 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 96%
  • Loyola 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 3%
  • Loyola 42%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Illinois State University is larger than Loyola based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 17,384 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL (Small City setting); Loyola University Chicago is in Chicago, IL (Large City setting).
  • Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Loyola University Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois State University 19:1; Loyola University Chicago 13:1.

ISU vs. Loyola Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Loyola? 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 Loyola ($21,369 vs. $39,147).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 30.9% lower than at Loyola University Chicago ($11,754 vs. $17,010).
  • Loyola University Chicago is 232.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $37,566 more per year; $53,710.00 vs. $16,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 90.4% higher at Loyola than at Illinois State University (about $25,500 more per year; $53,710.00 vs. $28,210.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Loyola University Chicago than at Illinois State University (98% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Loyola University Chicago students is 122.1% larger than aid received by Illinois State University students ($28,816 vs. $12,974).

ISU vs. Loyola Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or Loyola? 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 Loyola and ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Loyola University Chicago (1270) is 170 points higher than at ISU (1100).
  • Incoming Loyola students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 990/1210; Loyola University Chicago 1170/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 21/27; Loyola University Chicago 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; Loyola - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Loyola students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at ISU (3.41).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than Loyola (81.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at ISU vs. 8.6% at Loyola.

ISU vs. Loyola Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and Loyola? 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 Loyola University Chicago's (70%).
  • Graduates from Loyola University Chicago earn a median of about $10,800 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,800 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Loyola graduates ($22,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Loyola graduates ($227 vs. $258).
  • More Loyola graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 74%)

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.