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Compare DePaul University vs Illinois State University

Chicago, IL · Normal, IL

DePaul UniversityIllinois State University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$30,902/yr$19,398/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$27,359/yr$11,568/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$23,168$20,482
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$25,950/yr$12,301/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$28,687/yr$16,348/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$31,057/yr$23,865/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$37,092/yr$28,224/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$246/mo$217/mo
Room & board (on campus)$19,095/yr$11,754/yr
Room & board (off campus)$19,095/yr$12,194/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,104/yr$830/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$2,829/yr$5,874/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$63,052/yr$34,309/yr
Tuition (in-state)$45,999/yr$16,144/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$45,999/yr$28,210/yr
Students with Pell Grants32%32%
Students taking federal loans46%43%
Getting in
Students who get accepted76%88%
SAT range (middle 50%)1140–1330990–1210
SAT average12621113
ACT range (middle 50%)25–3121–27
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 24–33 · Math 23–28English 21–27 · Math 19–26
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received32,17620,884
Students accepted23,66018,589
Students who enrolled2,9434,147
Accepted students who enroll12%22%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores29%35%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores11%10%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Recommendation lettersRequiredNot considered
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
College-prep programRequiredNot considered
Demonstrated competenciesOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate68%65%
Freshmen who come back86%81%
Typical earnings 10 years in$68,751/yr$62,117/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$42,705–$101,987$44,007–$86,157
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)68%72%
White students graduating73%72%
Black students graduating58%41%
Hispanic students graduating57%51%
Asian students graduating74%66%
Typical earnings 6 years in$54,695/yr$50,599/yr
Earn more than a HS grad79%82%
Graduate on time55%49%
Pell students who graduate63%52%
First-gen students who finish68%67%
Low-income students who finish62%62%
Students who transfer out18%No data reported
Typical earnings 8 years in$62,341/yr$57,276/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 29% · Visual & Performing Arts 15% · Computer & Information Sciences 11%Business, Management & Marketing 21% · Education 18% · Health Professions 9%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 29% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 21% of degrees
2nd most popular programVisual & Performing Arts — 15% of degreesEducation — 18% of degrees
3rd most popular programComputer & Information Sciences — 11% of degreesHealth Professions — 9% of degrees
4th most popular programSocial Sciences — 9% of degreesVisual & Performing Arts — 5% of degrees
5th most popular programCommunication & Journalism — 8% of degreesPsychology — 5% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Computer Software and Media Applications — $115,112/yrRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $108,154/yr
Degrees in STEM15%11%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment14,09019,057
Students per professor17 : 119 : 1
Graduate students7,0222,439
Average professor pay$12,717/mo$9,453/mo
Full-time professors50%74%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byHigher Learning CommissionHigher Learning Commission
Median family income$48,556$67,100
SettingCity (large)Suburb (midsize)
LocationChicago, ILNormal, IL
RegionGreat LakesGreat Lakes
Founded18981857
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Public
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral Universities: High Research ActivityDoctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students4%0.8%
Men45%43%
Women55%57%
White students44%64%
Black students7.8%14%
Hispanic or Latino students25%14%
Asian students13%2.6%
Two or more races4.5%4.1%
Other / not reported1.8%0.9%
Special typeReligiously affiliatedNone
First-generation students30%30%
Part-time students6.1%5.3%
Students age 25+9.7%4.2%
Spent on teaching per student$13,870/yr$9,152/yr
Endowment$1.0B$224.3M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing2,7366,578
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$11,691/yr$5,970/yr
Meal plan charge$6,777/yr$5,056/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by weekVaries by week
Academic calendarQuarterSemester
Religious affiliationRoman CatholicNo data reported
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchNoYes
ROTCYes — ArmyYes — Army
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceYesNo
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesYesNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesYesNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesNo
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoYes
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I without footballNCAA Division I-FCS
Football teamNoYes
Varsity teams1115
Student athletes218471
Athletic scholarships$7.3M$8.1M
Athletics budget$47.7M$30.2M
Athletics revenue$47.7M$30.2M
Recruiting spend$715,518$242,378

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.