Student Life

Involvement Starts Here

Get connected to campus through involvement in student organizations and attending in person and virtual events.

Explore Redbird Life

Quick Facts

20,000+ students at Illinois State
1 in 4 students are from underrepresented backgrounds
79% of freshmen return for their sophomore year
See more Quick Facts

Housing and Dining

Two boys in a residence hall, one in a hammock under a loft bed and another sitting in a desk chair with a laptop.

Places to Live

Your strongest connections at Illinois State will come in the residence halls, including our 17 optional Themed Living-Learning Communities.

Group of students talking and eating at a table in the Watterson dining center.

Places to Eat

Our dining program is rated among the top 10 percent of all dining programs in the U.S.

A public transit bus turning at an intersection with a marquee stating, Try Transit.

Our Hometown

Bloomington-Normal: Great college town with all the comforts of home.

Get Involved

400+ ways to get involved

It’s easy to find your community at Illinois State—or create your own.

Search Student Organizations

Group of students who worked Welcome Week.

Learn to Lead

A crowd cheers with two women holding balloons in the foreground.

Back the Birds

A large group of students wearing greek letters posing in a stairwell.

Sororities and Fraternities

Students and parents gather for orientation in Braden Auditorium.

Activities and Events

Fine Art and Theatre

Circus performers pose in a group with their arms in the air.

Our Traditions

Health and Wellness

Students using the equipment in the Student Fitness Center.

Break a Sweat

Every student is automatically a member of our state-of-the-art Student Fitness Center, which offers group classes and personal trainers.

Student Fitness Center

A frisbee team posing for a photo after practice.

Sport Clubs

student getting checked out at the wellness center

Clinic, Pharmacy, and Insurance

Student petting a therapy dog in the library.

Wellness Programs

Three students in a peer counseling session.

Student Counseling

A Space for You

Embrace your identity. Be empowered. Join our campus community by becoming a champion for diversity, equity, antiracism, and inclusion at the new Multicultural Center.

Explore the Center's Plans

Civic Engagement

Student scrubbing a roof on a service trip.

Change the world

Civic engagement is a core value at Illinois State. We’re one of only 50 U.S. colleges to be named a Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Leadership Institution.

How to Volunteer