Aerial view of campus at night.

Out-of-State Students

Illinois State University welcomes students from all over the country. Redbirds flock to central Illinois for our nationally known academic programs and in-state tuition for qualifying out-of-state students.

Quick Facts

  • In-State Tuition

    Many out-of-state students qualify for in-state tuition.

  • Global Campus

    Our students come from 43 states and 67 countries.

  • Top College Town

    Bloomington-Normal consistently ranks as one of the top 50 college towns in America.

  • College Scorecard Stars

    Our average cost and high alumni earning potential puts us in the Top 6% of four-year public universities.

How to Apply

Paying for College

Going out of state for a world-class education doesn’t have to cost more than staying close to home.

In-State Tuition

At Illinois State, select students from other states receive in-state tuition rates, a savings of approximately $11,000 per year or $44,000 over four years. You will qualify if you meet one of the following conditions:

  • Reside in a bordering state (Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, or Wisconsin)

  • Have defined talent in the fine arts.

  • Be admitted to the University as a freshman or transfer student with a minimum cumulative grade point average of a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Our Hometown

Our hometown, Bloomington-Normal, is considered one of the best college towns in the U.S. It’s centrally located just a few hours from Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis.

Distance map
Map of Midwest region of United States showing how far (measured in hours) Bloomington-Normal is from other major cities. Chicago, Illinois, 2 hours; St. Louis, Missouri, 2.5 hours; Indianapolis, Indiana, 3 hours; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 3.5 hours; Des Moines, Iowa, 4.5 hours; Louisville, Kentucky, 4.5 hours; and Detroit, Michigan, 5.5 hours.

  • Easy Travel

    We’re located near Central Illinois Regional Airport, with daily nonstop flights to Dallas, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Orlando, and Chicago. We're also steps from a new Amtrak station—another option for trips home.

  • Big Employers

    You can intern or start your career at several national companies based in central Illinois, including State Farm Insurance, ADM, and COUNTRY Financial.

    Explore Bloomington-Normal

National Alumni Network

Illinois State has more than 210,000 living alumni. There are active alumni networks across the U.S., including Texas, Florida, California, New York, and Colorado.

Meet Your Admissions Counselor

Have questions about becoming a Redbird? We'd love to hear from you.