Illinois State University Admissions 2025: Process, Requirements & Deadlines

Illinois State is still a top choice for students. With almost 20,000 enrolled students, they manage to maintain small class sizes and high academic standards. Their graduation and retention rates over the last ten years have been among the highest in the country. Their students graduate from Illinois State on schedule and have a great time there. Learn more about Illinois State University admissions if you wish to study here. 

The Latest About Illinois State University Admissions

Illinois State University is among the most affordable universities in the Midwest because of its increasing graduation rate, strong alumni earning potential, and general affordability. Additionally, you may feel secure knowing that your tuition is set for four years. Illinois State is investing an extra $4 million to support students via the Redbird Scholarship initiative.

Illinois State University Admission Statistics

The table below displays the Illinois State University admission statistics:  

Illinois State University Admission Requirements for Students

The following Illinois State University admission criteria must be followed by students to be considered for admission:

• If an international freshman has not attended a U.S. high school for three or more years, they are not required to submit their SAT or ACT results.
• For many academic programs, transfer candidates are required to submit their prerequisite college courses.
• Graduate applicants must submit their GMAT or GRE results, depending on the program of choice.
• Graduate candidates must submit a degree certificate or diploma, if relevant to their nation.
• According to federal requirements, Illinois State students must provide evidence of their ability to pay for their first year of school.
• You must submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test that you took within the last two years if you are not a native English speaker.

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

First-year students must meet the following Illinois State University admission requirements when applying to its undergraduate courses:

• You must complete a core high school curriculum, which includes English- 8 semesters, Mathematics- 6 semesters, Science- 4 semesters (with laboratories), Social Scvience- 4 semesters, and Foreign Lnaguage/Fine Arts- 4 semesters. 
• A self-reported grade point average must be submitted. For freshmen accepted in the autumn of 2022, the middle 50% range was 3.30 – 4.02 for the Illinois State University admission requirement GPA.
• While a personal statement is not necessary to finish your application, all applicants are encouraged to submit a personal statement for consideration.
• It is not necessary for you to provide the results of any standardised tests with your admissions application.
• You can still choose to submit your SAT or ACT results, and doing so won't have a negative impact on your standing.
• International students must submit unofficial academic records from all attended schools.
• International applicants must submit proof of their English language proficiency.
• International applicants must submit copies of their passport.

Postgraduate Admission Requirements

Here is the admission process for Illinois State University graduate school. The following guidelines are important. 

• When applying for a master's degree, a student must have completed the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework (roughly the junior and senior years) with a minimum GPA of 2.8 (on a scale where an A is a 4.0).
• Candidates are evaluated based on their academic history. These might include minimal GPA requirements, required scores on the GRE, GMAT, or other standardised tests, interview or personal statement questions, work samples, or reference letters.

English Requirements

Admission to Illinois State University for Indian students and international students requires additional test scores, like proof of English language proficiency. The following are the minimum required scores:

• TOEFL internet-based (iBT): 79
• TOEFL Essentials: 8.5
• IELTS overall band score: 6.5
• Duolingo: 105 

Document Requirements

To meet the Illinois State University admission requirements, the following documents are necessary: This also applies to Illinois State University admission requirements for MS.

• Application and application fee
• Official academic transcripts of previous schools
• Self-reported grade point average
• Academic personal statements
• Standardised test scores (optional for freshmen applicants)
• Unofficial academic records of previously attended schools
• English proficiency test scores
• Electronic bank statement demonstrating your proof of funds
• Passport

Visa Requirements

Applications for a J-1 or F-1 visa must go via an Embassy or Consulate of the United States. For more information regarding the visa application procedure, please visit Travel.State.gov. To make an appointment or to get a comprehensive list of the papers you need to bring, visit the website of the embassy or consulate where your visa interview will be held. At the very least, you will need to provide:

• Passport
• Original I-20 or DS-2019
• Official acceptance letter
• Receipt of payment of the SEVIS I-901 fee
• Proof of financial support

Illinois State University Admission Process

The following Illinois State University admission criteria must be followed by students to be considered for admission:

• If an international freshman has not attended a U.S. high school for three or more years, they are not required to submit their SAT or ACT results.
• For many academic programs, transfer candidates are required to submit their prerequisite college courses.
• Graduate applicants must submit their GMAT or GRE results, depending on the program of choice.
• Graduate candidates must submit a degree certificate or diploma, if relevant to their nation.
• According to federal requirements, Illinois State students must provide evidence of their ability to pay for their first year of school.
• You must submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test that you took within the last two years if you are not a native English speaker.

Illinois State University Acceptance Rate

According to U.S. News and World Report, Illinois State University acceptance rate is 86%. This indicates that 86 applicants out of 100 were admitted to the university. This means that Illinois State University is almost non-selective in its admissions 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 at the university.  

Illinois State University Application Deadlines 2024

Here are some important Illinois State University admission deadlines for international students applying to Illinois State University:

Illinois State University Application Fees

Here is a quick look at the Illinois State University admissions application fees for undergraduate and graduate students.

Illinois State University Cost of Studying

In addition to tuition, there are other factors that affect how much it costs to attend Illinois State University. The following are a few of the general costs that one must pay:

Graduate Cost of Attendance

Illinois State University Scholarship

Domestic freshmen will be automatically qualified if their cumulative GPA is 3.0+ (4.0). The Redbird Scholarship has a $1,000–$5,000 value range and is renewable for a maximum of three more years. The very competitive Jesse W. Fell Scholarship is open to freshmen with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or above. This scholarship is renewable for a maximum of three more years, with an annual value of up to $12,000.

Illinois State University Admissions Contact Details

You can use the inquiry form on ISU's website, give them a call, stop by the office between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or submit a question to be answered by current students. Sign up for their email list if all you'd like to do is learn more about Illinois State.

Office of Admissions

201 Hovey Hall

Campus Box 2200

Normal, IL 61790-2200

Phone: (309) 438-2181 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

Toll-free: (800) 366-2478

Illinois State University admission email: Admissions@IllinoisState.edu