Illinois State vs Knox College

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Normal and Galesburg, Illinois, home to Illinois State University and Knox College, respectively. While both institutions offer a transformative educational experience, they possess distinct characteristics that cater to diverse student aspirations. Illinois State University, a public research university, boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a broader range of students. Knox College, a private liberal arts college, maintains a more selective admissions process, fostering a close-knit academic community. Explore the nuances of each institution, from their popular majors and student body demographics to their graduation rates, in the comprehensive comparison table provided. Discover the ideal academic environment that aligns with your unique goals and aspirations.
Illinois State University logo

Illinois State University

Knox College logo

Knox College

Overview

Location Normal, Illinois Galesburg, Illinois
Campus setting Suburb: Midsize Town: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 83.0% 83.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.5% 70.2%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range 1000 - 1200 1150 - 1380
ACT range 21 - 27 24 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 51.0% 41.0%
Students submitting ACT score 19.0% 20.0%
Total number of applicants 11,913 3,061
Total number of admissions given out 10,905 2,150
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,374 270
Yield rate 30.9% 12.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required 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
$63,997
Average net price $21,033 $25,476
Tuition
In state: $11,524

Out of state: $23,048
$50,784
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,494

Meal plan: $4,652
Room/dormitory: $5,040

Meal plan: $5,181
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
100.0%
Average amount $36,738
Students receiving federal student loan 46.0%
Average amount $5,065
67.0%
Average amount $6,454
Students taking out private loans 8.0%
Average amount $14,532
8.0%
Average amount $15,133

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 17,674
Men 43.0% Women 57.0%
1,156
Men 43.3% Women 56.7%
Graduate students 2,559
Men 35.1% Women 64.9%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 4.2% 59.7%
International students 2.8% 15.9%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Midsize Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 5,560 1,156
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 California Missouri Indiana Texas

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Education
  • Psychology
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Business
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 11:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 67.3% 75.1%
Dropout rate 32.0% 6.0%
Transferred out N/A 18.6%
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
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $67,660
  • Year 3: $76,977
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,736
  • Year 2: $44,942
  • Year 3: $50,211
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,439
  • Year 2: $34,704
  • Year 3: $36,980
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $34,002
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $29,250
  • Year 3: $33,023
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,149
  • Year 2: $20,530
  • Year 3: $26,000
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $20,928
  • Year 3: N/A
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $19,794
  • Year 3: N/A
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,960
  • Year 2: $21,964
  • Year 3: N/A
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,849
  • Year 2: $21,052
  • Year 3: N/A

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