Illinois State University is one of the top public universities in the world and in the USA. The Illinois State University was established in 1857 as Illinois State Normal University (ISNU) in Normal, Illinois. Later, the university regained its recognition as Illinois State University in 1967.
The university is renowned for its academic excellence, high-quality research programmes and affordable tuition, especially for international students. To provide the best education to its students, most of the faculties at the university have higher degrees and experience in their fields. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 19:1.
Illinois State University has maintained its esteemed value in the world by securing a ranking of 1401+ in the QS World University Ranking 2024 and 209 out of 439 Best National Universities in the US News.
Applicants applying to Illinois State University must submit an INR 4.2K (USD 50) non-refundable application fee. Illinois State University's acceptance rate is 86%, which means the university is moderate to least selective. Students with good academic records, well-maintained GPAs and other required scores with all the documents are given higher consideration at the university. The required minimum GPA is 3.0 on a scale of 4.0.
To secure admission to the university, international candidates must provide their English proficiency test scores if they are non-native English speakers. The tests include TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo. For postgraduate courses, students need to provide their GRE and GMAT scores.
Illinois State University offers more than 200 programmes; students can have various subject options to choose from, and even the university has dual programmes.
Illinois State University has several notable alumni who have served the world with their excellent skills and qualities. Some of the notable alumni are Richard Roeper, Jane Lynch, Cecilia Suárez, Suzy Bogguss, Doug Collins, Jeff Perry and many more.
The application deadline at Illinois State University for the summer (May/June) semester is April 1, whereas for the fall semester, it is May 1. If the student wants to apply to the university for the spring (January) semester, they should apply between April 1 and October 15.
Read More: Benefits of studying in the USA
Illinois State University offers over 200 programmes covering more than 160 undergraduate and 90 graduate degree programmes, along with 10 doctorate and special courses. The university also provides academic English and pathway programmes.
Some of the major courses offered at the university are Business & Economics, Marketing, Life Sciences, Agriculture & Forestry, Arts & Humanities, Physical Sciences, Chemistry, Social Sciences, Communication & Media Studies, Sociology, Computer Science, Education, Engineering & Technology, Law and many more.
The tuition fee at Illinois State University for undergraduate courses is approximately INR 99.6 K (USD 1198.49), of which INR 66.9 K (USD 804.38) is the tuition cost and INR 9.4 K (USD 113.11) is the mandatory fee or outreach fee for international students during the academic year 2023-2024 per single semester hour. Similarly, for the postgraduate courses, the average cost is INR 73K (USD 877.72) for international students. The mandatory fee or outreach fee is the same for undergraduate and graduate courses. Moreover, the tuition cost may vary depending on the level of programme and courses the individual is applying to.
The cost of living at Illinois State University varies according to the campus type: on-campus or off-campus. It also fluctuates depending on the living style and personal expenses of an individual. The costs cover initial payment charges of INR 20.8 K (USD 250) and meal plan charges, along with a non-refundable application fee of INR 4.2 K (USD 50). The following is the estimated cost of living at the university.
Living Cost at Illinois State University
Particular | Cost |
Residence Hall | INR 4.3 L to INR 8.5 L (USD 5,074 to USD 10,208) |
Cardinal Court Apartment | INR 7 L to INR 10.8 L (USD 8,420 to USD 12,802) |
University-Owned Apartments | |
209 N. Fell Ave. | INR 4.7 L (USD 5,632) |
211 N. Fell Ave. | INR 5.4 L (USD 6,424) |
302 School St | INR 4.8 L (USD 5,632) |
Illinois State University has different tuition costs depending on the domestic and international applicants; for international applicants, the university is considered less expensive when compared to the national average cost. The average cost at the university per credit hour is INR 99.6K (USD 1198.49). Therefore, Illinois State University is ranked among the best-value schools.
To secure admission at Illinois State University, international undergraduate students need to have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0 to be considered for admission.
Candidates applying for postgraduate programmes need to submit their GRE and GMAT scores, and the GPA requirement varies depending on the level of the programme and courses.
The minimum GRE score at the university is 300 or higher in both verbal and quantitative areas. The GMAT score should be equivalent to the GRE. The university also has a GRE waiver, which can be achieved based on a student’s merit performance.
For the international undergraduate application, the candidate must submit the form to Illinois State on the Student Application Portal. Follow the instructions to apply at the university.
Visit the official website of the university.
Click on the ‘Admission’ section.
Then, select the ‘How To Apply’ tab.
Now, select the International Student section.
Click on the Student Application Portal.
Create an account. Login credentials will be shared with the registered email.
Log in with the credentials and start filling out the application.
Pay the application fee
Then, Apply.
Applicants have to submit the Illinois State University application fee, which is INR 4.2K (USD 50) to be considered for admission to the university.
Candidates need to check the application deadline while applying for the postgraduate programmes, as many of the programmes have different application deadlines. The application deadline for the international application at Illinois State University is mentioned below.
Illinois State University Application Deadline
Semester | Deadline |
Summer (May/June) | September 1 – April 1 |
Fall (August) | September 1 – May 1 |
Spring (January) | April 1 – October 15 |
Illinois State University provided more than 3,350 scholarships in the fiscal year, and 76 new scholarships were added to offer a wide range of options to all the students. The scholarships may vary as per the level of programmes or the departmental courses. Students can also apply for external scholarships.
Undergraduate International Admissions Scholarships: No application is required for this scholarship; after applying at the university, students are automatically considered for this award. The award provided in this scholarship is up to INR 4.2 L (USD 5,000) and is renewable for up to four years.
Scholarships at Illinois State University
Scholarships | Awards |
Redbird Academic Scholarship | INR 83.1 K to INR 4.2 L (USD 1,000 to USD 5,000 per year) |
Jesse W. Fell Scholarship | Up to INR 10 L (USD 12,000) per year |
International Baccalaureate Scholarship | INR 83.1 K (USD 1,000) |
Read More: Scholarships in the USA
For non-native English-speaking applicants, the university requires evidence of their English proficiency test. The minimum score requirement can differ depending on the level of courses and programmes applied by the individual. Illinois State University accepts tests including TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo.
English Language Test Requirement
Exams | Minimum Score |
TOEFL internet-based (iBT) | 79 |
TOEFL Essentials | 8.5 |
IELTS | 6.5 |
Duolingo | 105 |
Illinois State University has over 20,784 students, of whom 18,330 are undergraduates and 2,454 are graduates, representing 69 countries. The majority of the countries are from all over the world, including India, China, Brazil, and Germany. The university is considered a top university for students who want to study in the USA at an affordable cost.
International Admissions
Email: InternationalAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu
Contact: (309) 438-0861
Illinois State University is considered a competitive university due to its limited seats and high demand for entry requirements. The acceptance rate of Illinois State University is 86%, which means the university is least selective.
Students with good academic performance, well-maintained GPAs, perfectly written statements and interviews have higher consideration during the selection process. For international applicants, the university requires extra documents and exam scores. Approximately 86 students out of 100 have a chance to secure admission to the university.
Illinois State University is best known for its value schools, the university offers a huge range of programmes at affordable cost, and the average total tuition cost at the university is INR 99.6 K (USD 1198.49) per credit hour for international students, which is lower than the average national tuition cost for international students.
Students applying for the postgraduate programmes at Illinois State University must submit their GRE and GMAT scores. The scores may vary depending on the level of the programme and courses. Whereas, the average minimum GRE requirement at the university is 300 in verbal and quantitative. The GMAT score should be equivalent to the GRE. The university also has a GRE waiver, which can be achieved based on a student’s merit performance.
Illinois State University has maintained its esteemed value in the world by securing the ranking of 209 out of 439 Best National Universities in the US News 2024, 112th in Top Public Schools, and 65th among the Best Value Schools.
Furthermore, the university also ranked 1401+ in the QS World University Ranking 2024.
Illinois State University requires a minimum of 3.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0 for international undergraduate students to be considered for the admission process. Some of the courses at the university may require higher GPAs, depending on the department requirements and level of programme. It is recommended that students achieve higher grades and meet all the other requirements to have higher chances of securing a place at the university.
Illinois State University is a top-recognised public university, especially known for its research programmes and high-quality academic performance. Courses and degrees offered at the university have special recognition around the world. While maintaining its esteemed value in the world, the university also confirms that the faculties teaching at the university should have higher degrees with fruitful knowledge and experience to provide the best to all of their students.