Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Illinois State University #139 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $62,507, placing Illinois State University in the 62.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Illinois State University sits in the 63.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $1,313 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Illinois State University's composite ranking reflects a consistent balance across return, access, and affordability — with graduates achieving median 4-year earnings that place the university solidly above most peers in the Azimuth coverage set. The institution's earnings beyond expectations signal, anchored by its business-dominant program mix, shows that students here outperform what their backgrounds and institution type would predict at comparable schools.
Azimuth ranks Illinois State University #139 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Normal, IL, Illinois State University enrolls roughly 19,057 undergraduates. Retention stands at 81.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 64.5%, figures that reflect steady degree completion across a mid-sized public campus. What anchors Illinois State University in the composite is mobility. The university sits in the 94.4 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by a student body where 32.1% receive Pell Grants and 29.6% are first-generation college students — a broad-access enrollment base that converts into meaningful post-graduation outcomes. Business is the dominant program family, and the university's mix of applied and professional fields channels graduates into career tracks with stable regional demand. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite — Azimuth ranks Illinois State University #571 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 61.5 percentile. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $62,507, and graduates earn about $1,313 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Illinois State University in the 63.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 60.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, and access sits in the 80.4 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting an admission rate of 88.1% and the broad enrollment profile that defines the institution's public mission.
Illinois State University prices accessibly across the income spectrum, with meaningful differences by family income level. Low-income families pay approximately $11,568 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $16,348, and higher-income families pay approximately $28,224. Azimuth ranks Illinois State University #563 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That standing reflects the university's public-tuition structure and its ability to direct need-based aid toward students who need it most. As with any institution, the net price illusion is worth keeping in mind: published sticker costs and actual net prices can differ substantially depending on a family's financial profile. Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what families actually pay at Illinois State University. The university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and students apply through the FAFSA. Families whose income qualifies them for Pell Grants typically see the largest gap between sticker price and net price, while middle- and higher-income families carry more of the published cost. For families weighing the full picture, net prices by income band are medians within those bands — individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown here. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,482, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,767; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Illinois State University's median four-year earnings of $62,507, median federal debt of $20,482 projects to a monthly payment of about $231 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Illinois State University is a strong fit for students drawn to business, education, and applied professional fields who want a public university experience in central IL with reliable long-term financial outcomes. Graduates earn in the 62.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Illinois State University sits in the 63.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $1,313 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing long-term return on investment. The institution enrolls a broad mix of students, with 32.1% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 29.6% identifying as first-generation — and the aid structure supports access without requiring families to absorb the higher net prices common at more selective institutions. Median student debt at graduation is $20,482, a figure that stays manageable relative to typical earnings outcomes for Business-oriented graduates. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Illinois State University's program mix is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align there will find the strongest outcomes; students pursuing highly specialized research or technical programs may find a better match elsewhere.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Illinois State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Computer Science
58 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
26 graduates
Management Information Systems and Services
32 graduates
Insurance
38 graduates
Construction Management
54 graduates
Illinois State University's program mix is anchored in Business, education, and health-related fields — a portfolio consistent with the institution's identity as a comprehensive public university in central Illinois. Teacher Education is the largest program with 471 graduates, followed by Digital Marketing (243 graduates), Nursing (207 graduates), Finance (161 graduates), and Communication and Media Studies (156 graduates).
Business accounts for 21% of degree output, with Education at 17% and Arts at 5%, reflecting a balance between applied-professional and foundational academic fields. Across 62 programs serving roughly 4,489 students annually, 55 meet Azimuth's [ranking threshold](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Teacher Education combines the largest cohort with solid earnings, making it the program that contributes most to Illinois State University's aggregate return profile. Graduates of Teacher Education earn median earnings of $49,240 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #100 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Among the highest-earning programs, Azimuth ranks Finance #66 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 161 graduates earning $85,326. Azimuth ranks Nursing #266 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $81,264, and Azimuth ranks Digital Marketing #38 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $77,956.
Several of Illinois State University's strongest programs feed directly into stable, in-demand labor markets. Business Administration (147 graduates, $66,660) and Criminal Justice (146 graduates, $62,506) represent high-mobility pathways where four-year earnings reflect direct workforce entry.
Education-related programs, by contrast, tend toward local-labor markets with more moderate early-career pay but steady long-term demand — a pattern visible in the [supply-demand landscape for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/). The breadth of Illinois State University's program portfolio means outcomes vary meaningfully by field, and students choosing between business, health, and education tracks should weigh both early earnings and career-trajectory differences. ```
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Massachusetts-Amherst Similar quality tier (#4277 ranked) | MA | 60% | $71,631 | #4277 | Compare |
Farmingdale State College Similar quality tier (#4278 ranked) | NY | 63% | $69,781 | #4278 | Compare |
University Of California-Merced Similar quality tier (#4279 ranked) | CA | 91% | $64,368 | #4279 | Compare |
California State University-Monterey Bay Similar quality tier (#4281 ranked) | CA | 97% | $59,247 | #4281 | Compare |
University Of Massachusetts-Lowell Similar quality tier (#4273 ranked) | MA | 83% | $64,874 | #4273 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Illinois State University prices accessibly across the income spectrum, with meaningful differences by family income level. Low-income families pay approximately $11,568 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $16,348, and higher-income families pay approximately $28,224.
Azimuth ranks Illinois State University #563 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That standing reflects the university's public-tuition structure and its ability to direct need-based aid toward students who need it most.
As with any institution, the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is worth keeping in mind: published sticker costs and actual net prices can differ substantially depending on a family's financial profile. Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what families actually pay at Illinois State University.
The university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and students apply through the FAFSA. Families whose income qualifies them for Pell Grants typically see the largest gap between sticker price and net price, while middle- and higher-income families carry more of the published cost.
For families weighing the full picture, net prices by income band are medians within those bands — individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown here. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,482, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,767; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at Illinois State University's median four-year earnings of $62,507, median federal debt of $20,482 projects to a monthly payment of about $231 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Illinois State University earn median earnings of $62,507 four years after enrollment, placing Illinois State University in the 62.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $1,313 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 63.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to IL's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,990 — the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
While institution-level earnings track IL's regional labor market, specific programs deliver materially stronger outcomes. Azimuth ranks Digital Marketing #38 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with graduates earning median earnings of $77,956 — 1.12x the national benchmark for the field.
Business is the dominant program family, accounting for 21% of degrees, followed by Education at 17% and Arts at 5%. Among the largest programs, Teacher Education program graduates 471 students annually with median earnings of $49,240 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #100 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The Digital Marketing program graduates 243 students with median earnings of $77,956, while The Nursing program graduates 207 students earning $81,264. On the higher-earning end, Azimuth ranks Finance #66 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $85,326, and Azimuth ranks Communication and Media Studies #73 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $60,414.
