Illinois State University (ISU)

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Illinois State University can be found in Normal, IL, a public college which focuses on only a select few programs offered. The students enrolled at ISU number approximately 21,000 each year, and is one of the biggest colleges in the state.

An ACT or SAT exam may be required before applying to this school. Scores in the range of 1020 (25th percentile) - 1220 (75th percentile) for the SAT exam and within the range of 20 (25th percentile) - 26 (75th percentile) on the ACT is common among applicants that get into Illinois State University. We were able to estimate the Illinois State University (ISU) average GPA (3.06 - 3.38) of admitted students by applying sampled GPA data on over 150 schools. This school has an acceptance rate of around 82 percent with 29 percent of applicants deciding to attend. Using acceptance rate data from previous years, we can project that the Illinois State University (ISU) acceptance rate in 2021 is going to be around 80%. You can get more information from the admissions office website at admissions.illinoisstate.edu.

Overall Illinois State University (ISU) Acceptance Rate - Fall 2020

81.9%

The overall acceptance rate for Illinois State University was reported as 81.9% in Fall 2020 with over 16,200 college applications submitted to ISU. Both in state and out of state applicants are included in these figures. We do not have data on transfer acceptance rates currently.

Accepted Applicants Profile

  • ISU ACT Scores: 20 - 26
  • ISU Average GPA: 3.06 - 3.38

How Hard Is It to Get into Illinois State University?

Applicant Selectivity: Medium

When determining how difficult it is for students to get into ISU, ACT/SAT test scores and high school average GPA ranges of accepted students of previous years can help estimate the selectivity of a school.

Historical Trend and Acceptance Rate 2024 Projection

The historical trend chart shows acceptance rates from the previous years, from which we have projected the acceptance rate for the 2024-2025 school year. The overall acceptance rate trend for ISU has been getting lower when compared to averages from previous years.

Acceptance Rate By Year

  • 2016-2017: 88.9%
  • 2017-2018: 89.1%
  • 2018-2019: 89.2%
  • 2019-2020: 81.9%
  • Projected ISU Acceptance Rate 2024-2025: 80.2%

How Does Illinois State University (ISU) Compare?

81.9%
This School
56.7%
National Avg

The acceptance rate for ISU is forty-four percent higher than the national average of all colleges which is around 56.7%.

Nearby Similar College Acceptance Rates

SchoolAcceptance Rate
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign59.0%
Northern Illinois University48.4%
Purdue University-Main Campus59.8%
Indiana State University89.6%

Admissions Rates & Enrollment Rates - Details

General Recommendations & Requirements for Admissions

  • High School GPA Scores are Required
  • School Records are Required
  • Standardized Test Scores (SAT,ACT,...) are Required
  • TOEFL Exam (Foreign Language Students) are Required

Number of Applicants, Percent Accepted, and Enrolled Students (Fall 2020)

TotalMaleFemale
Applicants16,15137.9%62.1%
Admitted13,23437.6%62.4%
Enrolled3,86041.8%58.2%

Average ACT/SAT Scores of Applicants to Illinois State University (ISU) (Fall 2020)

SAT® SectionScore Range
Critical Reading510 - 610
Math510 - 610
Total Score1020 - 1220
ACT®Score Range
English20 - 26
Math18 - 26
Composite Score20 - 26
To learn more about the data and calculations that power this site, please visit our data discussion page.