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# Schools Similar to Illinois State University

Updated September 30, 2026

[Overview](/school/illinois-state-university/)[Cost & aid](/school/illinois-state-university/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/illinois-state-university/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/illinois-state-university/admissions/)[Majors](/school/illinois-state-university/majors/)Similar schools

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## Compare alternatives to Illinois State

-   [Similar admissions profiles](#similar-admissions) · 5 matches
-   [Higher admission rates](#higher-admission) · 2 matches
-   [Nearby alternatives](#nearby-alternatives) · 5 matches
-   [Higher earnings at similar cost](#higher-earnings) · 2 matches
-   [Lower cost with similar earnings](#lower-cost) · 5 matches
-   [Similar overall profiles](#related-peers) · 10 matches

## Similar admissions profiles

Similar admissions profiles · matching order within this group

| School | Illinois State · admission rate | Admission rate | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Benedictine University](/school/benedictine-university/) | 88.1% | 95.2% | $72,460 4 years after completion |
| [University of Illinois Springfield](/school/university-of-illinois-springfield/) | 88.1% | 85.9% | $63,235 4 years after completion |
| Monmouth College | 88.1% | 90.9% | $51,368 4 years after completion |
| University of Dubuque | 88.1% | 88.6% | $59,598 4 years after completion |
| [University of Nebraska at Kearney](/school/university-of-nebraska-at-kearney/) | 88.1% | 89.5% | $56,647 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Higher admission rates

Higher admission rates · matching order within this group

| School | Illinois State · admission rate | Admission rate | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/) | 88.1% | 100.0% | $62,480 4 years after completion |
| [New Jersey City University](/school/new-jersey-city-university/) | 88.1% | 98.4% | $60,965 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Nearby alternatives

Nearby alternatives · matching order within this group

| School | State | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Northern Illinois University](/school/northern-illinois-university/) | IL | $64,583 4 years after completion |
| [University of Illinois Springfield](/school/university-of-illinois-springfield/) | IL | $63,235 4 years after completion |
| [North Central College](/school/north-central-college/) | IL | $61,656 4 years after completion |
| [Northeastern Illinois University](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/) | IL | $60,607 4 years after completion |
| [Elmhurst University](/school/elmhurst-university/) | IL | $63,784 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Higher earnings at similar cost

Higher earnings at similar cost · matching order within this group

| School | Illinois State · earnings | Earnings | Average annual net price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Cal Poly Maritime Academy](/school/cal-poly-maritime-academy/) | $62,507 4 years after completion | $108,757 4 years after completion | $20,555 |
| [George Mason University](/school/george-mason-university/) | $62,507 4 years after completion | $78,425 4 years after completion | $17,915 |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Lower cost with similar earnings

Lower cost with similar earnings · matching order within this group

| School | Illinois State · average annual net price | Average annual net price | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [University of Illinois Springfield](/school/university-of-illinois-springfield/) | $19,398 | $9,833 | $63,235 4 years after completion |
| [Governors State University](/school/governors-state-university/) | $19,398 | $12,329 | $56,405 4 years after completion |
| [Northern Illinois University](/school/northern-illinois-university/) | $19,398 | $13,391 | $64,583 4 years after completion |
| [CUNY Brooklyn College](/school/cuny-brooklyn-college/) | $19,398 | $3,103 | $62,833 4 years after completion |
| [California State University-Los Angeles](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/) | $19,398 | $3,967 | $59,756 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Similar overall profiles

Similar overall profiles · matching order within this group

| School | State | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [University of Nebraska-Lincoln](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/) | NE | $62,769 4 years after completion |
| [Grand Valley State University](/school/grand-valley-state-university/) | MI | $60,491 4 years after completion |
| [University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/) | WI | $62,480 4 years after completion |
| [Kent State University at Kent](/school/kent-state-university-at-kent/) | OH | $56,839 4 years after completion |
| [Kansas State University](/school/kansas-state-university/) | KS | $64,711 4 years after completion |
| [Indiana University-Indianapolis](/school/indiana-university-indianapolis/) | IN | $64,616 4 years after completion |
| [Ohio University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-university-main-campus/) | OH | $70,528 4 years after completion |
| [University of Kansas](/school/university-of-kansas/) | KS | $69,680 4 years after completion |
| [Western Michigan University](/school/western-michigan-university/) | MI | $62,885 4 years after completion |
| [University of Iowa](/school/university-of-iowa/) | IA | $69,866 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Matching methods and sources

[How schools are matched](/methodology/).

## Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).
