Getting in
For Fall 2025, 23,826 first-year students applied to Illinois State, 20,382 were admitted and 4,253 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 85.5%.
Source: Illinois State Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025
| Applicants | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state | 22,162 | 19,001 | 85.7% |
| Out-of-state | 1,245 | 1,007 | 80.9% |
| International | 382 | 345 | 90.3% |
| Unknown | 37 | 29 | 78.4% |
Source: Illinois State Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By school or major. Illinois State's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by college or major.
Source: Illinois State Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early plans. Illinois State has no early decision or early action plan. Its November 1 priority deadline is an earlier filing date, not an early decision.
Source: Illinois State Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Majors
117 majors across 8 schools. Every undergraduate major in Illinois State's official 2026-2027 Catalog, by college, with each degree it leads to. Minors, sequences, certificates and graduate programs are left out.
College of Arts and Sciences45
- Anthropology (BA)
- Anthropology (BS)
- Biochemistry (BS)
- Biological Sciences Teacher Education (BS)
- Biological Sciences (BS)
- Chemistry (BS)
- Communication Sciences and Disorders (BS)
- Communication Studies (BA)
- Communication Studies (BS)
- Economics (BA)
- Economics (BS)
- English (BA)
- English (BS)
- Environmental Systems Science and Sustainability (BS)
- French and Francophone Studies (BA)
- Geography (BA)
- Geography (BS)
- Geology (BS)
- German (BA)
- History (BA)
- History (BS)
- Journalism (BA)
- Journalism (BS)
- Language and Culture Studies (BA)
- Legal Studies (BA)
- Legal Studies (BS)
- Mass Media (BA)
- Mass Media (BS)
- Mathematics (BA)
- Mathematics (BS)
- Molecular and Cellular Biology (BS)
- Philosophy (BA)
- Physics (BS)
- Political Science (BA)
- Political Science (BS)
- Psychology (BA)
- Psychology (BS)
- Public Relations (BA)
- Public Relations (BS)
- Social Work (BSW)
- Sociology (BA)
- Sociology (BS)
- Spanish (BA)
- Sports Communication (BA)
- Sports Communication (BS)
Source: Illinois State University Catalog 2026-2027, College of Arts and Sciences (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Applied Science and Technology33
- Agriculture (BS)
- Computer Networking (BS)
- Computer Science (BS)
- Computer Systems Technology (BS)
- Construction Management (BS)
- Criminal Justice Sciences (BA)
- Criminal Justice Sciences (BS)
- Cybersecurity (BS)
- Engineering Technology (BS)
- Environmental Health and Sustainability (BS)
- Exercise Science (BS)
- Family and Consumer Sciences (BA)
- Family and Consumer Sciences (BS)
- Fashion Design and Merchandising (BA)
- Fashion Design and Merchandising (BS)
- Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics (BA)
- Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics (BS)
- Graphic Communications Technology (BS)
- Health Informatics and Management (BS)
- Health Promotion and Education (BS)
- Health Promotion and Education (BSED)
- Human Development and Family Science (BA)
- Human Development and Family Science (BS)
- Information Systems (BS)
- Interior Design (BA)
- Interior Design (BS)
- Medical Laboratory Science (BS)
- Occupational Safety and Health (BS)
- Physical Education (BS)
- Physical Education (BSED)
- Recreation and Sport Management (BS)
- Sustainable and Renewable Energy (BS)
- Technology and Engineering Education (BS)
Source: Illinois State University Catalog 2026-2027, College of Applied Science and Technology (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Business12
- Accountancy (BS)
- Business Administration (BS)
- Business Education (BA)
- Business Education (BS)
- Business Education (BSED)
- Business Information Systems (BS)
- Finance (BS)
- International Business (BA)
- International Business (BS)
- Management (BS)
- Marketing (BS)
- Risk Management and Insurance (BS)
Source: Illinois State University Catalog 2026-2027, College of Business (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Education7
- Early Childhood Education (BS)
- Early Childhood Education (BSED)
- Elementary Education (BS)
- Elementary Education (BSED)
- Middle Level Teacher Education (BS)
- Middle Level Teacher Education (BSED)
- Special Education (BSED)
Source: Illinois State University Catalog 2026-2027, College of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Engineering3
- Electrical Engineering (BS)
- Engineering (BS)
- Mechanical Engineering (BS)
Source: Illinois State University Catalog 2026-2027, College of Engineering (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts13
- Art (BA)
- Art (BFA)
- Art (BS)
- Creative Technologies (BA)
- Creative Technologies (BS)
- Film (BA)
- Film (BS)
- Music (BA)
- Music (BM)
- Music (BME)
- Music (BS)
- Theatre (BA)
- Theatre (BS)
Source: Illinois State University Catalog 2026-2027, Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Mennonite College of Nursing1
- Nursing (BSN)
Source: Illinois State University Catalog 2026-2027, Mennonite College of Nursing (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Interdisciplinary Studies3
- Interdisciplinary Studies Data Science (BS)
- Interdisciplinary Studies (BA)
- Interdisciplinary Studies (BS)
Source: Illinois State University Catalog 2026-2027, Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority deadline | November 1 | not published | No |
| Application deadline | April 1 | not published | No |
The priority window runs August 1 to November 1. Completing your application, with accurate information, by the priority deadline gives the best consideration for scholarships and for admission to competitive or limited-enrollment majors. Documents required for a decision are due April 1, and final documents for enrollment by July 15. Illinois State says the fall deadlines may change without notice, and it does not publish decision dates.
Source: Illinois State Admissions, Admissions Deadlines (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
You do not need to send an SAT or ACT score. If you do, admissions considers the scores and subscores, and Illinois State says a score cannot affect your standing negatively. If you apply without a score, you must send your high school transcript to complete the application, and a personal statement may be requested if your application needs more review.
Source: Illinois State Admissions, Freshman Admission Requirements (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
Not announced yet. When we checked Illinois State's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: Illinois State Admissions, Freshman Admission Requirements (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at Illinois State, 2026-2027:
| Item | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $12,670 | $25,338 |
| Fees | $4,146 | $4,146 |
| Food and housing (on campus) | $12,902 | $12,902 |
| Books and supplies | $830 | $830 |
| Transportation | $2,452 | $2,452 |
| Personal expenses | $3,422 | $3,422 |
| Total | $36,422 | $49,090 |
For a general undergraduate living on campus and taking 15 hours each semester, fall and spring. Illinois State sets these tables by the term you first enroll; this one is for students who started in fall 2026, spring 2027 or summer 2027. The College of Business, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Engineering and the Mennonite College of Nursing have their own cost tables.
Source: Illinois State Financial Aid, 2026-2027 Undergraduate Cost of Attendance (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $11,568 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $12,301 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $16,348 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $23,865 |
| Over $110,000 | $28,224 |
| All incomes | $19,398 |
What first-year, full-time, in-state students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from Illinois State's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Similar schools
Chosen for how close each is to Illinois State University on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI · Public83.6% admitted$12,766 average net price
Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN · Public86.2% admitted$14,940 average net price
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI · Public85.3% admitted$15,273 average net price
University of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH · Public88% admitted$25,648 average net price
Michigan Technological UniversityHoughton, MI · Public85.5% admitted$14,182 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.