ISU vs. UIU

Deciding between Illinois State University and Upper Iowa 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.

Illinois State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • UIU Fayette, IA
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • UIU Remote Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 21,546
  • UIU 3,941
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • UIU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #502
  • UIU #938
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • UIU -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • UIU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • UIU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $16,144
  • UIU $19,475
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,210
  • UIU $19,475
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $11,754
  • UIU $10,121
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $21,369
  • UIU $20,426
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $12,974
  • UIU $13,596
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 96%
  • UIU 97%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 21,573
  • UIU 452
  • Admitted
  • ISU 19,017
  • UIU 436
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.2%
  • UIU 96.5%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 22.5%
  • UIU 33.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1100
  • UIU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • UIU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • UIU 3.34
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • UIU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Moderate
  • UIU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • UIU
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/27
  • UIU 14/21
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 990/1210
  • UIU 970/1160
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • UIU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027
  • UIU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 19:1
  • UIU 25:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • UIU
    • Business (40%)
    • Human Services (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Education (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 71%
  • UIU 45%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $49,000
  • UIU $42,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • UIU 50%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,000
  • UIU $24,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $227
  • UIU $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 42%
  • UIU 43%
  • % Women
  • ISU 58%
  • UIU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • UIU Medium
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • UIU No
  • % White
  • ISU 77%
  • UIU 66%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 2%
  • UIU 1%
  • % Black
  • ISU 8%
  • UIU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 9%
  • UIU 5%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • UIU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • UIU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • UIU 2%
  • % International
  • ISU 0%
  • UIU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 0%
  • UIU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 96%
  • UIU 50%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 3%
  • UIU 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois State University in Normal, IL with Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois State University is larger than UIU based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 3,941 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL (Small City setting); Upper Iowa University is in Fayette, IA (Remote Rural setting).
  • Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Upper Iowa University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois State University 19:1; Upper Iowa University 25:1.

ISU vs. UIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or UIU? 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 Upper Iowa University than ISU ($20,426 vs. $21,369).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Upper Iowa University are 13.9% lower than at Illinois State University ($10,121 vs. $11,754).
  • Upper Iowa University is 20.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $3,331 more per year; $19,475.00 vs. $16,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 44.9% higher at ISU than at Upper Iowa University (about $8,735 more per year; $28,210.00 vs. $19,475.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Upper Iowa University than at Illinois State University (97% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Upper Iowa University students is 4.8% larger than aid received by Illinois State University students ($13,596 vs. $12,974).

ISU vs. UIU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois State University (1100) is 30 points higher than at UIU (1070).
  • Incoming ISU students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 17 at UIU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 990/1210; Upper Iowa University 970/1160.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 21/27; Upper Iowa University 14/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; UIU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at UIU (3.34).
  • UIU has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than ISU (88.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at ISU vs. 33.9% at UIU.

ISU vs. UIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and UIU? 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 Upper Iowa University's (45%).
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than UIU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $42,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than UIU graduates ($22,000 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UIU graduates ($227 vs. $248).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 50%)

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.