ISU vs. WVU

Deciding between Illinois State University and West Virginia 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
West Virginia University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • WVU Morgantown, WV
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • WVU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 21,546
  • WVU 23,643
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • WVU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #502
  • WVU #566
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • WVU -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • WVU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • WVU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $16,144
  • WVU $10,104
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,210
  • WVU $28,608
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $11,754
  • WVU $14,582
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $21,369
  • WVU $15,169
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $12,974
  • WVU $12,363
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 96%
  • WVU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 21,573
  • WVU 18,729
  • Admitted
  • ISU 19,017
  • WVU 16,669
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.2%
  • WVU 89%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 22.5%
  • WVU 24.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1100
  • WVU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • WVU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • WVU 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • WVU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Moderate
  • WVU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • WVU
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/27
  • WVU 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 990/1210
  • WVU 1010/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • WVU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027
  • WVU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 19:1
  • WVU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • WVU
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 71%
  • WVU 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $49,000
  • WVU $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • WVU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,000
  • WVU $24,001
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $227
  • WVU $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 42%
  • WVU 47%
  • % Women
  • ISU 58%
  • WVU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • WVU Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • WVU No
  • % White
  • ISU 77%
  • WVU 81%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 2%
  • WVU 1%
  • % Black
  • ISU 8%
  • WVU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 9%
  • WVU 4%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • WVU 3%
  • % International
  • ISU 0%
  • WVU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 0%
  • WVU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 96%
  • WVU 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 3%
  • WVU 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois State University in Normal, IL with West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

West Virginia University is larger than ISU based on total student enrollment (23,643 students vs. 21,546 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL (Small City setting); West Virginia University is in Morgantown, WV (Small City setting).
  • Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois State University 19:1; West Virginia University 19:1.

ISU vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or WVU? 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 West Virginia University than ISU ($15,169 vs. $21,369).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 19.4% lower than at West Virginia University ($11,754 vs. $14,582).
  • Illinois State University is 59.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than WVU (about $6,040 more per year; $16,144.00 vs. $10,104.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at WVU than at Illinois State University (about $398 more per year; $28,608.00 vs. $28,210.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois State University than at West Virginia University (96% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 4.9% larger than aid received by West Virginia University students ($12,974 vs. $12,363).

ISU vs. WVU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at West Virginia 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 WVU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 990/1210; West Virginia University 1010/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 21/27; West Virginia University 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); WVU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WVU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at ISU (3.41).
  • WVU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than ISU (88.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at ISU vs. 24.8% at WVU.

ISU vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and WVU? 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 West Virginia University's (57%).
  • Graduates from West Virginia University earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,600 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $2,001 lower median loan debt than WVU graduates ($22,000 vs. $24,001).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WVU graduates ($227 vs. $248).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 59%)

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.