The academic community at Illinois State University is dedicated to maintaining a small-college environment with large-university resources. More than 20,000 students attend Illinois State, which continues to be a top-choice school because of its rigorous academic standards and small class sizes. Illinois State University has been named the best-value public university in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report. Retention and graduation rates at universities have consistently ranked in the top 10% of the country over the last ten years. In order to help students understand that learning is an active and lifetime process, Illinois State University collaborates with them as partners in their educational growth. Starting to get ready for college begins with the Illinois State University admission process. Through research and creative endeavours, which all students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to take part in, the university contributes to continuous learning.
I. Introduction
About Illinois State University
An American university with a global footprint, Illinois State University draws faculty and students from all over the world. There are 165+ undergraduate majors, 90+ master’s degree courses, and 10 PhD degrees available at Illinois State University. There are also some professional and academic English programmes available. Accounting, art, chemistry, computer science, history, and other subjects are among the topics of study for undergraduate and graduate degrees. There are 20,784 applicants for Illinois State University admission. India, China, Brazil, and Germany are just a few of the 69 nations represented within the university’s international student community.
Community members at Illinois State University cooperate to make sure the university is thriving. They are committed to taking part in shared governance and implementing constant development. In order to spearhead regional, state, national, and international projects, increase service and outreach, and improve financial support for educational, intellectual, and service activities, the University collaborates with business, industry, government, and educational entities.
Illinois State University Acceptance Rate:
With a 92% acceptance rate, Illinois State University admissions are less competitive. A score of 21 to 27 on the ACT or an SAT score between 1000 and 1200 is required for admission to Illinois State University for half of the applicants. Nonetheless, 25% of accepted applicants obtained scores that were above these limits, while 25% obtained scores that were below these levels. If relevant to the programme, ISU will accept GRE or GMAT results for graduate enrollment. Summer, fall, and spring are the admission intakes for foreign students at Illinois State University. ISU has different application dates for each graduate programme and for different course categories. Instead of graduate assistants, professional experts teach more than 85% of the university’s programmes.
II. Illinois State University Admissions Requirements
International students must submit their test results from a variety of standardised exams together with their academic records in order to get Illinois State University admission. The aforementioned admission requirements should be followed by international applicants.
- Transcripts/Academic Records: Send a transcript to Illinois State University so that it can evaluate it for admission or transfer credit. External transcripts must all be authentic. Transcripts in electronic format must be sent to Illinois State immediately from the institution where transfer credit was achieved. Transcripts sent by the student will not be accepted by the university.
- English language requirement: Candidates must submit either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test if their country of origin is one that does not use English as a first language.
- Payment: Both UG and PG programmes at universities have similar application procedures. Students must submit an online application and pay a 55 USD application fee.
Admission Requirements For Undergraduate Students:
Beyond the classroom, the university’s dedication to personalised care extends to the admissions procedure. A university official will carefully analyse each component of every application to assess your academic readiness and appropriateness. Students with the best academic records will be given the highest entrance priority. Students must have graduated from high school, had their SAT or ACT scores or subscores (if provided), and submit an optional academic personal statement in order to be admitted to a UG course. Candidates must adhere to the following minimum requirements for the high school curriculum. Below is a listing of prerequisites for being enrolled on undergraduate programmes at ISU:
- Eight semesters of English- Placing a focus on writing, speaking, and reading literature
- Six semesters of Mathematics- College preparatory classes like algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or computer programming basics are encouraged by the institution.
- 4 semesters of science with labs- a focus on agriculture or natural science
- Four semesters of social science- Emphasis on governance and history
- 4 semesters of fine arts and a foreign language- any four-semester combination of a language and/or the fine arts, such as music or art.
- Students must give a grade point average that they self-report
- Freshmen accepted for fall 2022 fell between the middle 50% range of 3.30 to 4.02.
- Personal Statement for Students
- Standardised Test Results
- Evidence of English language competency
For Illinois State University admission to the specific majors, the university has additional requirements that students must meet. These requirements include:
- Dance: Students who want to enrol in the School of Theatre and Dance first apply for enrollment at the university through the standard admissions process. Later will choose a date for the dance programme audition when they complete their admission application form.
- Music: Applicants must pass an audition and meet the ISU admission criteria.
Note: There can be higher scoring criteria for certain programmes. Please check the precise limit for each course on the respective course page on the university website. A well-written statement of purpose (SOP) describing the applicant’s motivations for choosing the institute, interests, and future objectives might strengthen the application.
Admission Requirements For Graduate Students:
Students must hold a four-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the relevant regional accrediting authority in order to be granted admission to any graduate programme at Illinois State University. Be aware that a master’s degree may be required for some certificate or doctoral programmes. The applicants are evaluated based on their academic standing and any other performance standards set forth for the respective programmes. They could consist of minimum GPA requirements, GMAT, GRE, or other standardised test results, personal statements or interview questions, samples of work, or letters of recommendation. The following is a list of requirements for some of Illinois State University’s well-known graduate programmes:
- For each institution or university other than Illinois State where graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was achieved, applicants must provide unofficial transcripts. The unofficial transcript must be legible and clearly show the degree(s) conferred, the courses taken, and the grades earned for each term. All qualified students are required to provide official transcripts.
- A person applying to a master’s programme must meet the general graduate school criteria listed as well as have a minimum GPA of 2.8 (on a scale where an A is a 4.0) for the previous 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.
- A higher GPA or the GRE or GMAT may be needed for many graduate programmes.
- One must submit an electronic bank statement or letter that is dated within six months of their acceptance.
English Language Proficiency Requirements:
Candidates must submit either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test that they have taken within the last two years if their country of origin is one where English is not the native tongue. Test results that have been scanned can be electronically emailed to the Illinois State University admissions office for consideration. The official test results must be given to Illinois State through the TOEFL or IELTS website, or they must be verified as official by the Office of Admissions if accepted. There can be higher scoring criteria for certain courses. Please check the precise limit for each course on the planned course page on the university website.
| English Test | Minimum Score |
| TOEFL iBT | 79 |
| IELTS | 6.5 |
| TOEFL Essentials | 8.5 |
| PTE | 65 |
| Duolingo (DET) | 105 |
Document Checklist:
It will be easier for applicants to get admitted to ISU if their performance on the standardised tests is notable. An evaluation organisation will review the academic records of international students, including their exam results and the courses and subjects they studied in high school. Verify that every important and distinctive mark has been scanned and is readable. The name of the school, your name, the titles of your courses, and the grades you earned are among these. The university will need to be able to review the information provided on the back documents about credit hours, the institution’s grading system, etc., so carefully scan both the front and back of your documents (if there is information on the back). The following extra application materials are necessary:
- Official high school transcripts and university transcripts
- English proficiency test scores
- Letter of recommendation
- A copy of your passport
- GMAT/GRE scores
- Declaration of finances
- Bank statement
- SAT/ACT scores
- Copy of passport
Application Fees, Timelines & Deadlines:
Students must submit an online application and pay 55 USD as application costs. Depending on whether one is a transfer student, an overseas student, or an incoming freshman, their application dates will change. Several graduate programmes have earlier deadlines for international students. For the best chance of acceptance into majors with challenging entrance requirements or with limited enrollment criteria, students are advised to submit their applications before the priority deadline.
Please check the individual graduate programmes you desire to apply for before submitting an application. Complete your application with accurate self-reported information by the priority deadline for the best chance of being considered for scholarships and Illinois State University admission for your preferred major.
| Admission Type | Deadlines |
| Early Consideration | November |
| Regular Admission | January |
III. Illinois State University Admissions Process
Steps To Apply To ISU:
Students may either use the Common Application or the Illinois State University application. One is not given preference over the other. The university’s admissions portal is available for use by overseas students who wish to apply for their desired programmes. The stepwise procedure is as follows:
Step 1: Visit the following website- connect.illinoisstate.edu/apply
Step 2: Create a new account if you’ve never used the service before. Current users can sign in immediately.
Step 3: Start the application process for your chosen programme.
Step 4: Enter your contact information, citizenship information, programme details, term of the programme, eligibility data, and any other necessary information.
Step 5: Review and submit the application after providing all necessary information.
When Will You Hear Back From Illinois State University?
In order to monitor the development of your application, it is essential that you regularly check the status of your Illinois State University admissions.
IV. Financial Aid and Scholarships
Scholarships To Study At Illinois State University:
There are several ways to get the funds required to accomplish students’ aspirations of attending Illinois State University, from grants to scholarships. Scholarships are available to undergraduate and graduate students at Illinois State University. Undergraduate students with a minimum 3.0 GPA are eligible for the undergraduate international admissions scholarship. On the other hand, graduate students with a minimum GPA of 3.5 are eligible for Graduate International Admissions Scholarships. Each scholarship has a maximum value of $5,000. The institution offers several scholarships to foreign students who are enrolled in US universities. These include some of the following:
- STAR Scholarship
- Bird to Bird Scholarship
- McLean County Full Tuition Scholarship
- Legacy Scholarship
V. Conclusion
The environment at Illinois State University is encouraging and personalised for each student. The university immerses students in teaching and scholarship, encourages academic and personal development, values each professor and staff member’s contributions to student achievement, and acknowledges each student’s individual educational ambitions. Students at Illinois State University are prepared to be responsible leaders who will create, advance, and advocate good aims for the development of society. They are also prepared to be informed and active global citizens.
Thank you for reading this blog on Illinois State University Admissions. If you’d like to read more, do check out our other blogs of interest:
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