The Illinois State University acceptance rate is 88.2% for the 2024-25 cycle. Illinois State admitted 19,017 students from 21,573 applications and enrolled 4,285.
The more interesting number is the yield. 23% of admitted students enrolled at Illinois State, against 11% at DePaul, a private university in Chicago with a far lower acceptance rate. Twice as many people who get into Illinois State actually go. That is what a genuine first choice looks like in the data, and it says more about the student experience here than the acceptance rate does.
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Illinois State University Acceptance Rate at a Glance
| Metric | 2024-25 cycle |
| Acceptance rate | 88.2% |
| Applicants | 21,573 |
| Admitted | 19,017 |
| Enrolled | 4,285 |
| Yield rate | 23% |
| Average high school GPA | 3.41 |
| SAT, mid-50% | 990 to 1210 (44% submitted) |
| ACT, mid-50% | 21 to 27 (8% submitted) |
There is a small gender split worth noting for transparency: women were admitted at 90% and men at 86%. Both are high, and the difference is unlikely to change anyone's application decision.
Illinois State is test-optional for 2026-27. Only 44% of enrolled students submitted an SAT score and 8% submitted an ACT score, so your transcript carries almost all of the weight.
What GPA Do You Need for Illinois State?
An average admitted GPA of 3.41, roughly a B+, is notably more accessible than most of the Illinois institutions students compare it against. UIUC admits in the 3.65 to 4.0 band and DePaul averages 3.8.
At 88.2%, a student with a B average and complete college-preparatory coursework is very likely to be admitted. ISU requires a high school GPA and considers test scores only if you choose to submit them.
When submitting a score helps. If your GPA is below 3.2, an SAT above 1210 or ACT above 27 puts you above the enrolled middle 50% and gives the reader a reason to look past the transcript. If your score sits inside or below the range, the data suggests withholding it costs you nothing.
Is Illinois State Hard to Get Into?
No. At 88.2% it is one of the most accessible four-year public universities in Illinois, and it works well as a safety school on a list that reaches higher.
The Illinois range in context:
| Institution | Acceptance rate |
| University of Chicago | About 5% |
| UIUC | 36.6% overall, about 7.2% for Computer Science |
| DePaul | 75.9% |
| Illinois State | 88.2% |
Our guide to colleges in Illinois covers how to build a balanced list across that spread.
Why the Yield Tells You More Than the Acceptance Rate
A 23% yield at an 88.2% acceptance rate is a genuinely good signal, and it is unusual. Most universities with very high acceptance rates have low yields, because they are absorbing insurance applications from students aiming higher. UMass Boston, for example, admits nearly 84% and yields just over 12%.
Illinois State doubles that. Three likely reasons:
It is a residential university in a real college town. Normal, paired with Bloomington, is built around the university rather than the other way round. Students who apply generally want that experience rather than a commuter campus.
In-state cost. Illinois public tuition averages $19,352, well below the Chicago privates, and housing in Normal is the cheapest of the three main Illinois student markets.
Strong professional programmes. Education, nursing and business at ISU have long-standing regional reputations and pull applicants who specifically want them.
For you as an applicant, this matters because it suggests the students around you chose to be there. That is a different atmosphere from a campus where most people are waiting for a transfer.
Where Illinois State Students Live
Normal is a college town about two hours south-west of Chicago, and the housing market is straightforward in a way that Chicago's is not.
Rent is the lowest of the three main Illinois student markets. Chicago shared rooms run roughly $750 to $1,300 a month and Urbana-Champaign sits below that. Normal is cheaper again, which is the quiet financial argument for ISU alongside in-state tuition.
Most of the town is walkable or cycleable. Uptown Normal sits directly adjacent to campus with apartments, restaurants and the Connect Transit network. Students genuinely live here without a car, which removes a cost that dominates budgets at many public universities.
The leasing cycle runs early. As in most college towns where the university is the main industry, students sign for the following August well in advance, often the preceding autumn. If you are admitted in spring, the best Uptown buildings may already be committed.
Nine-month leases are worth asking about. Much of the town empties in summer, so academic-year terms exist. Paying twelve months for nine months of use is an avoidable cost.
Acolyte Living lists verified options for Illinois State students and across Normal.
Take our apartment tour checklist to every viewing, and if you may leave for a summer internship read what subletting means before signing a twelve-month lease. Weighing halls against a private lease is covered in college dorms versus off-campus housing.
Who Illinois State Suits
A strong fit if you want a residential public university at a low total cost, you are an Illinois resident who wants to stay in state, you are drawn to education, nursing or business, or you want a walkable college town where you do not need a car.
Think carefully if you want a big-city environment, need a highly ranked name for a competitive graduate path, or want the breadth of programmes a flagship like UIUC offers. Normal is a small town, which is the appeal and the limitation.
If cost is the main driver, compare against the Illinois community college transfer route, which is well developed in this state. See the best community colleges in the US.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Illinois State University acceptance rate?
Illinois State's acceptance rate is 88.2% for the 2024-25 cycle, from 21,573 applicants and 19,017 admissions.
What GPA do you need for Illinois State University?
The average admitted high school GPA is 3.41, roughly a B+. With complete college-preparatory coursework, a B average puts you in strong shape.
Is Illinois State test-optional?
Yes, for 2026-27. Only 44% of enrolled students submitted SAT scores and 8% submitted ACT scores, so the transcript carries most of the weight.
What SAT score do you need for Illinois State?
The mid-50% SAT range is 990 to 1210 and the ACT range is 21 to 27. Submitting is worth it if your score is above that band and your GPA is on the lower side.
Is Illinois State hard to get into?
No. At 88.2% it is among the most accessible four-year public universities in Illinois and functions well as a safety school.
What is Illinois State's yield rate?
23% of admitted students enrol, which is roughly double DePaul's 11% despite ISU's much higher acceptance rate. It suggests students who apply genuinely want to be there.
Where is Illinois State University?
In Normal, Illinois, paired with neighbouring Bloomington, about two hours south-west of Chicago.
How much is student housing in Normal, Illinois?
It is the cheapest of the three main Illinois student markets, below both Chicago and Urbana-Champaign. The leasing cycle starts early, so confirm current rates and availability directly.
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The Bottom Line
The Illinois State University acceptance rate of 88.2% means admission is rarely the obstacle. The number that should influence your decision is the 23% yield, roughly double DePaul's despite a far higher acceptance rate, which tells you this is a place students choose rather than settle for. Add in-state tuition and the lowest student rent in the state, and Illinois State is a stronger value proposition than its acceptance rate suggests.