Oakland University (OU) vs Illinois State

Oakland University and Illinois State University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Oakland University, nestled in Rochester, Michigan, boasts a smaller student body, fostering a close-knit community feel. Its acceptance rate hovers around 80%, making it a moderately selective school. In contrast, Illinois State University, located in Normal, Illinois, welcomes a larger and more diverse student population, with an acceptance rate of approximately 85%. Both universities excel in various academic disciplines, with Oakland University excelling in engineering and nursing, while Illinois State University shines in business and education. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details, including graduation rates, popular majors, and student demographics, to determine which university best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Illinois State University logo

Illinois State University

Oakland University logo

Oakland University

Overview

Location Normal, Illinois Rochester Hills, Michigan
Campus setting Suburb: Midsize Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 83.0% 73.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.5% 92.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
$45
SAT range 1000 - 1200 970 - 1230
ACT range 21 - 27 21 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 51.0% 60.0%
Students submitting ACT score 19.0% 10.0%
Total number of applicants 11,913 10,645
Total number of admissions given out 10,905 9,803
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,374 2,025
Yield rate 30.9% 20.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $31,811

Out of state: $43,335
In state: $27,222

Out of state: $37,996
Average net price $21,033 $14,316
Tuition
In state: $11,524

Out of state: $23,048
In state: $13,934

Out of state: $24,708
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,494

Meal plan: $4,652
$10,639
Available payment plans
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

91.0%
Average amount $10,848
90.0%
Average amount $10,413
Students receiving federal student loan 46.0%
Average amount $5,065
40.0%
Average amount $4,896
Students taking out private loans 8.0%
Average amount $14,532
3.0%
Average amount $11,832

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 17,674
Men 43.0% Women 57.0%
13,771
Men 42.1% Women 57.9%
Graduate students 2,559
Men 35.1% Women 64.9%
3,399
Men 43.2% Women 56.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 4.2% 2.5%
International students 2.8% 4.6%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Midsize Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 5,560 3,330
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 Michigan Ohio Texas Florida Wisconsin

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 67.3% 56.1%
Dropout rate 32.0% 30.4%
Transferred out N/A 8.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,556
  • Year 2: $95,930
  • Year 3: $102,485
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,002
  • Year 2: $64,990
  • Year 3: $78,276
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,303
  • Year 2: $72,884
  • Year 3: $77,896
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,576
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $73,936
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,516
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $73,592
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,000
  • Year 2: $64,791
  • Year 3: $70,358
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,829
  • Year 2: $65,194
  • Year 3: $65,533
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,294
  • Year 2: $54,996
  • Year 3: $64,567
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,313
  • Year 2: $52,781
  • Year 3: $64,241
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,480
  • Year 2: $54,470
  • Year 3: $63,207
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $103,063
  • Year 2: $104,510
  • Year 3: $111,195
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $99,486
  • Year 2: $103,078
  • Year 3: $104,636
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,963
  • Year 2: $96,829
  • Year 3: $102,429
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,366
  • Year 2: $89,412
  • Year 3: $100,527
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,453
  • Year 2: $80,858
  • Year 3: $88,542
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,313
  • Year 2: $78,488
  • Year 3: $85,248
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,319
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $82,466
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,808
  • Year 2: $76,962
  • Year 3: $82,235
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,652
  • Year 2: $68,305
  • Year 3: $78,387
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,648
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $75,775

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