Illinois State University
Illinois State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Illinois State University at a Glance
Illinois State University (ISU) is a public research university in Normal, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1857 as Illinois State Normal University and is the oldest public university in Illinois. It operates additional facilities in its twin city, Bloomington, and in Springfield.
1857
169 years old
$246M
$246.4 million (2025)
21,994
19,513 undergrad · 2,481 grad
1,180 acres
Identity
Is Illinois State University Worth It?
Illinois State University offers moderate value at $19,398/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $62,117, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 65% graduation rate means roughly 35% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Illinois State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #44 of 78 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #2 | California State University-Stanislaus | 100 | $6,067 | $63,188 |
| #3 | California State University-San Bernardino | 100 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| #4 | California State University-Fresno | 100 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| #5 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #6 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #44 | Illinois State University | 52 | $19,398 | $62,117 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Illinois State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in IL.
Best Programs at Illinois State University
The highest-earning program at Illinois State University is Construction Management at $64,500/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $23,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Construction Management graduate from Illinois State University earns $64,500, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $23,100. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Construction Management graduates carry $21,375 in median debt vs. $24,495 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $19,398/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Management | $64,500 | $64,500 | $21,375 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $62,500 | $62,500 | $22,000 |
| Computer Science | $62,300 | $62,300 | $23,250 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $56,500 | $56,500 | $22,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $53,900 | $53,900 | $21,500 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $53,600 | $53,600 | $21,000 |
| Insurance | $52,800 | $52,800 | $19,500 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $51,100 | $51,100 | $25,000 |
| Public Health | $50,300 | $50,300 | $21,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $49,400 | $49,400 | $22,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $49,200 | $49,200 | $21,462 |
| Mathematics | $43,600 | $43,600 | $21,166 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $43,600 | $43,600 | $20,986 |
| Economics | $43,500 | $43,500 | $20,750 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $43,500 | $43,500 | $19,000 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $42,600 | $42,600 | $21,500 |
| Marketing | $42,500 | $42,500 | $19,950 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $41,900 | $41,900 | $20,500 |
| International Business | $41,500 | $41,500 | $25,750 |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | $40,600 | $40,600 | $25,500 |
| Agriculture, General | $39,500 | $39,500 | $16,250 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $37,600 | $37,600 | $21,500 |
| Graphic Communications | $37,200 | $37,200 | $23,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $36,500 | $36,500 | $21,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $35,900 | $35,900 | $24,149 |
| Music | $35,000 | $35,000 | $23,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $34,500 | $34,500 | $23,184 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $34,000 | $34,000 | $27,500 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $33,700 | $33,700 | $24,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $33,100 | $33,100 | $21,625 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management | $32,800 | $32,800 | $22,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $32,100 | $32,100 | $23,156 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $31,000 | $31,000 | $18,750 |
| History | $31,000 | $31,000 | $22,500 |
| Journalism | $30,500 | $30,500 | $25,000 |
| Biology, General | $30,300 | $30,300 | $21,375 |
| Psychology, General | $29,700 | $29,700 | $21,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $29,200 | $29,200 | $21,749 |
| Social Work | $28,800 | $28,800 | $25,000 |
| Sociology | $27,500 | $27,500 | $24,533 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | $27,400 | $27,400 | $19,625 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $27,100 | $27,100 | $22,462 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $23,100 | $23,100 | $24,495 |
Similar Colleges in IL
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Normal, IL
- Student Body
- 19,057 students
- Admission Rate
- 88%
- Graduation Rate
- 65%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $19,398
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $62,117
- Median Student Debt
- $20,482