CostByCollegeAdmissions
Illinois State acceptance rate
The acceptance rate at Illinois State University is 89.0% for fall 2023. Out of 20,884 applicants, 18,589 were admitted and 4,147 enrolled.
The application numbers
| Figure | Fall 2023 |
|---|---|
| Applicants, fall 2023 | 20,884 |
| Admitted, fall 2023 | 18,589 |
| Acceptance rate, fall 2023 | 89.0% |
| Admitted students who enrolled, fall 2023 | 4,147 |
How this rate compares
Against the Illinois pilot school average of 53.6%, the rate at Illinois State University is 35.4 points higher, which means a larger share of applicants were admitted.
Against the national pilot school average of 53.0%, the rate at Illinois State University is 36.0 points higher, which means a larger share of applicants were admitted.
Averages here are simple averages across the pilot schools that publish a rate, 8 schools in Illinois and 235 schools nationwide on this site.
What the acceptance rate does and does not mean
The acceptance rate is the share of applicants who were offered a place. It is worked out by dividing the number of students admitted by the number who applied, for fall 2023.
A low rate means many more people applied than the school could admit. It does not by itself prove that a school is better, that teaching is stronger, or that graduates earn more. Some schools draw very large applicant pools because applying is free or simple, and some excellent schools admit a large share of a smaller, well matched pool.
A high rate does not mean admission is automatic. Schools still set entry requirements, and popular programs inside a school can be far harder to enter than the overall rate suggests. The rate also says nothing about cost. Read it beside the total cost, the average net price, and the outcomes on the cost page for Illinois State University.
Similar schools to compare
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois. Total cost $33,642 for one year.
- University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Total cost $36,364 for one year.
- DeVry University-Illinois, Lisle, Illinois. Total cost $40,132 for one year.
- Chamberlain University-Illinois, Addison, Illinois. Total cost $43,552 for one year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Illinois State?
The acceptance rate at Illinois State University is 89.0% for fall 2023. It is the number admitted, 18,589, divided by the number who applied, 20,884.
How many students apply to Illinois State each year?
In fall 2023, 20,884 students applied to Illinois State University, 18,589 were admitted, and 4,147 admitted students enrolled.
How selective is Illinois State compared with other schools in Illinois?
The average acceptance rate across the pilot schools in Illinois that publish a rate is 53.6%, and the national average across the pilot schools on this site is 53.0%. The rate at Illinois State University is 89.0%.
Does a low acceptance rate mean a school is better?
No. A low rate means far more people applied than the school could admit. It says nothing on its own about teaching quality, cost, or graduate earnings, which is why this site prints the rate beside cost and outcomes figures.
How much does Illinois State cost?
The total cost for one year at Illinois State University is $34,309 for in state students. The cost page on this site breaks that total into tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses.
What is the graduation rate at Illinois State?
The graduation rate at Illinois State University is 66%, measuring the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
Sources: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, United States Department of Education. Admissions figures are for fall 2023. See the methodology page for full detail.