Illinois State University GPA (3.62) & Acceptance Rate (88%)

Q: Can a 3.5 GPA get you into Illinois State University?

It would be within the usual range there: 41.3% of Illinois State University's first-year students who submitted a GPA had one below 3.5, as the college reported in its 2024–25 Common Data Set, and it admitted 88% of applicants for fall 2024. Colleges calculate GPA in different ways, so compare on the same scale and look at your courses and test scores too.

Q: How much does GPA matter at Illinois State University?

A lot: Illinois State University requires high school GPA and high school record. It considers essay or personal statement and test scores if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, college preparatory program, recommendations, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

Q: Is there a minimum GPA for Illinois State University?

Illinois State University doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.62, as reported by the college in its 2024–25 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.

Q: What GPA did Illinois State University's first-year students have?

58.8% of Illinois State University's first-year students who submitted a high school GPA had 3.50 or higher, and the largest group (24.8%) had a 4.0, as the college reported in its 2024–25 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.

Q: Is Illinois State University hard to get into?

Not for most prepared students: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Illinois State University admitted 88% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.

Q: How many applicants get into Illinois State University?

Illinois State University's acceptance rate was 88% for fall 2024: it admitted 19,017 of 21,573 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.

Q: What are Illinois State University's SAT and ACT score ranges?

The middle 50% of Illinois State University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 500–620 in reading and writing and 490–590 in math; ACT composite 21–27, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.

Q: Is Illinois State University test optional?

Check Illinois State University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Illinois State University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 44% sent SAT scores and 8% sent ACT scores.

Q: What is the average net price at Illinois State University?

First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $20,871 a year at Illinois State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Q: Does Illinois State University accept AP credit?

Yes. Illinois State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

Acceptance rate: 88% for fall 2024

Average high school GPA: 3.62, as reported by the college for 2024–25

SAT, middle 50%: 500–620 reading and writing, 490–590 math

ACT, middle 50%: 21–27 composite

Average net price: $20,871 a year (2022–23)

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Type your GPA to compare it with what Illinois State University reported: an average GPA of 3.62 (2024–25), an acceptance rate of 88% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 21–27.

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A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Illinois State University reviews each application.

Illinois State University average GPA

Illinois State University reported an average high school GPA of 3.62 for its first-year students who submitted one (100% did), in its 2024–25 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether it's weighted or unweighted.

How their high school GPAs were spread:

High school GPA	Share of first-year students
4.0	24.8%
3.75–3.99	16.6%
3.50–3.74	17.3%
3.25–3.49	15.7%
3.00–3.24	14.5%
2.50–2.99	10.8%
2.00–2.49	0.3%
1.00–1.99	<0.1%

First-year students who submitted a high school GPA, as Illinois State University reported in its 2024–25 Common Data Set. None had a GPA below 1.00. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.

An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so these figures can't be compared directly with your own GPA.

Illinois State University acceptance rate

Illinois State University admitted 19,017 of 21,573 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 88%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Illinois State University is a public 4-year university in Normal, Illinois, with 19,107 undergraduates.

SAT and ACT scores

Scores of the first-year students who entered Illinois State University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:

Test	25th percentile	Median	75th percentile
SAT Reading and Writing	500	560	620
SAT Math	490	540	590
ACT Composite	21	24	27
ACT English	21	23	27
ACT Math	19	23	26

44% submitted SAT scores and 8% submitted ACT scores, as Illinois State University reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1113 for admitted students.

Admission requirements

What Illinois State University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:

Admission factor	Status
High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average.	Required
High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned.	Required
Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application.	Considered if submitted
Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores.	Considered if submitted
High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class.	Not considered
College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school.	Not considered
RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors.	Not considered
Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III.	Not considered
Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations.	Not considered
Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work.	Not considered
Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college.	Not considered

Requirements can differ by program and applicant type, so check with Illinois State University's admissions office before you apply.

AP credit

Illinois State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

It doesn't award credit for life experience.

Average net price

First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $20,871 a year at Illinois State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Frequently asked questions

Can a 3.5 GPA get you into Illinois State University?

It would be within the usual range there: 41.3% of Illinois State University's first-year students who submitted a GPA had one below 3.5, as the college reported in its 2024–25 Common Data Set, and it admitted 88% of applicants for fall 2024. Colleges calculate GPA in different ways, so compare on the same scale and look at your courses and test scores too.

How much does GPA matter at Illinois State University?

A lot: Illinois State University requires high school GPA and high school record. It considers essay or personal statement and test scores if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, college preparatory program, recommendations, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

Is there a minimum GPA for Illinois State University?

Illinois State University doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.62, as reported by the college in its 2024–25 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.

What GPA did Illinois State University's first-year students have?

58.8% of Illinois State University's first-year students who submitted a high school GPA had 3.50 or higher, and the largest group (24.8%) had a 4.0, as the college reported in its 2024–25 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.

Is Illinois State University hard to get into?

Not for most prepared students: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Illinois State University admitted 88% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.

How many applicants get into Illinois State University?

Illinois State University's acceptance rate was 88% for fall 2024: it admitted 19,017 of 21,573 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.

What are Illinois State University's SAT and ACT score ranges?

The middle 50% of Illinois State University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 500–620 in reading and writing and 490–590 in math; ACT composite 21–27, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.

Is Illinois State University test optional?

Check Illinois State University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Illinois State University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 44% sent SAT scores and 8% sent ACT scores.

What is the average net price at Illinois State University?

First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $20,871 a year at Illinois State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Does Illinois State University accept AP credit?

Yes. Illinois State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

Before you apply, check Illinois State University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.

Sources

College Navigator: Illinois State UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
Illinois State University Common Data Set 2024–25Illinois State University: average high school GPA of first-year students and how their GPAs were spread.
College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).

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