Illinois State University Acceptance Rate 2024

Despite increasing enrollment, Illinois State retains strong ranks in the U.S. News & World Report subcategories, with 37% of classrooms having less than 20 students. 

The graduation rate at the university is still significantly higher than the national average. U.S. News & World Report continues to rank it in the top 100 public universities in the country, while Washington Monthly named the University one of the best values in the Midwest. 

The Illinois State University acceptance rate is a significant factor in determining your chance of getting an admission into its degree courses. 
Illinois State University is an international American institution that draws academics and students from around the globe. More than 165 undergraduate majors, 90 master's degree programs, 10 PhD programs, Pathway programs, and Academic English preparation are available for you to select from. 

Currently, 20,784 students are enrolled in the university. International students coming from 69 countries including Germany, India, Brazil, and China, represent a significant portion of the student body. Mathematics, Information Systems, Business Administration, Technology, and Applied Economics are some of the most popular courses among international students.

Latest about Illinois State University Acceptance Rate

The deadline for graduate programs at Illinois State University is October 15, 2024 (spring). For both the summer and fall semesters, the undergraduate application deadline has passed for 2024. The UG priority deadline for the spring semester is set for April 20, 2024, and October 15, 2024. For undergraduate students, the application fee to Illinois State University is USD 55; for graduates, it varies according on course.

What is Illinois State University acceptance rate?

According to U.S. News and World Report, Illinois State University has an acceptance rate of 86%. This indicates that 86 applicants out of 100 are admitted to the university. This means that Illinois State University is very little selective in its admission process. Illinois State University admissions officers do not take into account a candidate's high school class rank or letters of reference. Currently, 20,784 students are enrolled in the university.  

Illinois State University Acceptance Rate for International Students

You must be thinking, what is the acceptance rate for Illinois State University? Many academics and students from throughout the world come to Illinois State. According to Illinois State, the percentage of international students on campus is around 2.6%. Illinois State University has welcomed students from 69 countries including India, Germany, Brazil, and China. The Illinois State University acceptance rate for international students is highly satisfactory. For the fall admissions 2018, 74 students from India were enrolled in the university followed by Ghana, China, Bangladesh, and South Korea. 

Illinois State University Acceptance Rate for Graduates

Most students applying to Illinois State University make it through the uncomplicated admission process. Out of the total 20,784 enrolled students, 2,454 are pursuing graduate programs. On the other hand, 48% of international students were enrolled in the graduate programs of the university for fall 2018. This shows that a significant number of students aspire to complete their post graduation from overseas colleges. The Illinois State University transfer acceptance rate is better than most US universities. Illinois State graduates can choose from 90 programs.

Illinois State University Acceptance Rate for Undergraduates

Out of the total 20,784 enrolled students, 18,330 are admitted to the undergraduate degree courses at Illinois State University. On the other hand, about 14% of international students were enrolled in the undergraduate graduate programs of the university for fall 2018. The Illinois State University acceptance rate out-of-state is good and students can easily transfer without having to go through complex procedures. It is advised that transfer students apply at six months in advance of the term in which they hope to enroll.

Factors Influencing Illinois State University Acceptance Rate

There are a few reasons why schools with high acceptance rates—campuses with an acceptance rate more than 50%—might have high admission rates, but most of the time there is a mix of factors at play.

The number of freshmen that a school may take increases with size. If the number of applicants is equal, institutions with bigger freshmen classes will always have a higher admissions rate because admittance is determined by the ratio of those admitted to those who applied. 

High university does not mean bad! While there are many important characteristics used by US News & World Report to rank institutions, relatively few of them directly affect your experience as a student. Even though they may be ranked lower for their low levels of research, universities that emphasize undergraduate education or have smaller class numbers may nonetheless be excellent places to teach. A campus with a greater social climate can be your preference even though it isn't measured by the USNWR.

For reasons that only they know, some colleges rank lower on a person's list of preferred colleges. They may decide to attend the other school if they are accepted to both a highly selective institution and one that is higher on their list. That would reduce the yield rate—that is, the proportion of students who enrol after being admitted to college—at the less selective school. Schools use their own calculations to determine how many students must be admitted in order to enrol in the class size they choose in order to make accommodations for those pupils. This may result in greater admission rates at various universities.

How to Improve Your Chances of Admission at Illinois State University 

You have a very good chance of getting in because Illinois State University is not very selective—that is, if your GPA is not much below average. If you can score at least a 21 on the ACT or a 1020 on the SAT, you will almost definitely receive an admissions offer. You'll be admitted as long as you fulfil the remaining application conditions.

At the moment, the only exam with an optional essay portion that all students may take is the ACT. The optional essay portion of the SAT was eliminated in June 2021, with the exception of some states where it was still administered during the school day. As a result, while some institutions advise some candidates to submit their scores if they have them, no school mandates the SAT Essay or the ACT Writing portion. The SAT Essay/ACT Writing portion is optional, and Illinois State University may not take it into account when making admissions decisions. 

The Illinois State University acceptance rate GPA is 3.30 for freshmen and 3.0 for students applying to graduate schools. Illinois State University needs you to be above average in your high school class with a GPA of 3.64. You will require a minimum of a mixture of A and B grades, preferably more A grades than B. A lower GPA can be made up for by enrolling in challenging subjects, such as AP or IB. This will demonstrate your ability to tackle academic challenges beyond those faced by the typical high school student.

Comparing Illinois State University's Acceptance Rate to Other Similar Universities

The following universities in the table, along with their acceptance rates, are frequently contrasted with Illinois State University.

With an admittance rate of just 4.5% to 5%, Yale University is a very hard university to get into. Princeton, on the other hand, has an admittance rate of 5.8%, making it equally selective.

Admissions to Yale University are extremely tough. International students who excel intellectually, athletically, and have the potential to improve the welfare of the Yale community are welcomed. To put it briefly, the applicant needs to be an all-around player to get accepted into this esteemed Ivy League school. 

On the other hand, Illinois State University has a very high acceptance rate. You stand a fair chance of getting admitted into this college if you meet the bare minimums. However, academic excellence and other achievements are taken into consideration by Illinois. Nevertheless, a high acceptance rate does not necessarily say anything about the learning environment. You can get a quality education at Illinois State University.