There are many things to look for when searching for colleges. Luckily, we’re here to help! Let’s walk through some of the most important things to consider and some of the many reasons why it’s a great time to be a Redbird.

To simplify things, let’s distill the college search process down to evaluating schools on four main factors: academics, affordability, social fit, and outcomes. Whether you’re a student or a parent, these four things should be high on your list.

Academics

A natural place to begin your college search is to look for schools that have your intended major. And while that’s a great place to start, it’s equally important to consider the academic environment in which you’ll learn. In what size class will you be most comfortable? Does it matter to you who’s teaching? What kind of access to your faculty are you expecting? Here are some key points of our academic environment:

• Average class size of 31 students
• 19:1 student to faculty ratio
• 85% of our classes are taught by professors
• 97% of our professors have the highest degree in their field

Approximately nine out of ten students at Illinois State are undergraduates—meaning you can take advantage of just about everything from your first days on campus. Internships, leadership, research—it’s all here for you.

In addition to academic environment, you’ll want to consider the average academic profile of the students attending. Find a school where you fit nicely within the typical range of admitted students. That way, you know you’ll be challenged academically—and if you work hard, you’ll also have what it takes to be successful. “Fit” is important in finding the right school, and finding the right academic fit can set you up to reach your goals. The middle 50% of our 2019 admitted freshmen had a GPA between 3.10-3.80 on a 4.0 scale, and scored between 1030-1200 on the SAT or 21-26 on the ACT.

Affordability

Now let’s talk about affordability. At Illinois State, we are committed to keeping a great undergraduate experience affordable for qualified students. In fact, our total cost is in the lower half of all Illinois public universities, and more than three out of every four students on campus receive financial assistance to attend. 33% of our graduates cross the stage with no debt, and 78% of our students receive financial aid of some kind.

We offer a wide range of scholarships to incoming students, some of which are automatically awarded based on your application for admission and others that require a separate application or interview. Scholarships range from one-time $500 awards to full tuition scholarships that are renewable for each of your four years. Students with a 3.0 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale that also have a minimum 1200 SAT or 25 ACT receive a scholarship automatically, but you don’t necessarily have to hit those marks to be awarded merit aid. Visit our website for more information on available scholarships.

As you consider cost, keep in mind that your tuition rate at Illinois State will remain the same for four years. You won’t have to worry about increases year over year, making it easier for your family to plan and budget. What’s more, if you live outside of Illinois, you can receive the same rate of tuition as our Illinois residents depending on your academic achievement, talent in the fine arts, or if you live in a state bordering Illinois.