North Park University vs Illinois State
North Park University and Illinois State University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. North Park, a private Christian university, boasts a tight-knit community with a focus on liberal arts and professional studies. Its acceptance rate stands at 75%, and popular majors include nursing, business, and education. Illinois State, a public research university, offers a wider range of academic programs, including engineering, agriculture, and aviation. With an acceptance rate of 84%, it attracts a diverse student body. While North Park's smaller size fosters a personalized learning environment, Illinois State's larger campus provides ample opportunities for research and extracurricular activities. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, with North Park at 68% and Illinois State at 65%. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Illinois State University |
![]() North Park University |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Normal, Illinois | Chicago, Illinois |
Campus setting | Suburb: Midsize | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 83.0% | 70.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Evangelical | |
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 91.5% | 67.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
|
SAT range | 1000 - 1200 | 890 - 1162 |
ACT range | 21 - 27 | 20 - 26 |
Students submitting SAT score | 51.0% | 19.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | 6.0% |
Total number of applicants | 11,913 | 4,053 |
Total number of admissions given out | 10,905 | 2,721 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 3,374 | 464 |
Yield rate | 30.9% | 17.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price |
In state:
$31,811
Out of state:
$43,335
|
$47,375 |
Average net price | $21,033 | $20,260 |
Tuition |
In state:
$11,524
Out of state:
$23,048
|
$32,380 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,494
Meal plan:
$4,652
|
Room/dormitory:
$5,160
Meal plan:
$5,430
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
91.0%
Average amount $10,848 |
100.0%
Average amount $19,942 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
46.0%
Average amount $5,065 |
60.0%
Average amount $5,488 |
Students taking out private loans |
8.0%
Average amount $14,532 |
4.0%
Average amount $11,842 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
17,674
Men 43.0% Women 57.0% |
1,849
Men 40.5% Women 59.5% |
Graduate students |
2,559
Men 35.1% Women 64.9% |
900
Men 39.6% Women 60.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 4.2% | 19.9% |
International students | 2.8% | 5.6% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Midsize | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 5,560 | 975 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Illinois Missouri Wisconsin Michigan Iowa | Illinois Michigan Minnesota Indiana Texas |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 19:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 67.3% | 61.2% |
Dropout rate | 32.0% | 38.5% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.














































































































































































































