Illinois State University is the state's oldest public university, in Normal, two hours south of Chicago. It is best known for business, education, nursing, computer science, engineering and the performing arts, with a large residential campus and State Farm's headquarters next door. Choose it for an affordable Midwestern degree with a strong business school and high graduation rates.
Normal, United States
Official website: illinoisstate.edu
#1401
R2 — high research activity
1857 — the first public university in Illinois
Among the highest of any Illinois public university
$22,000 – $28,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$12,000 – $15,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on illinoisstate.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Information Systems
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA (College of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Accountancy
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Project Management
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
College of Business — AACSB-accredited, with State Farm and Country Financial as neighbours.
Education — a founding teacher-training mission and one of the largest education colleges in the US.
Residential campus — a quad-centred campus with strong retention and graduation rates.
Normal — a college town with a walkable uptown and Amtrak to Chicago in two hours.
Graduates join State Farm, Country Financial, Caterpillar, Rivian's Normal plant and Chicago's firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Information systems graduates report placement rates above 90% within six months.
Nursing and education graduates enter hospitals and schools across Illinois.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 1,000-acre campus sits in the centre of Normal, with the Quad and Milner Library at its heart, the Bone Student Center and business and science buildings nearby and residence halls, including the tall Watterson Towers, within walking distance.
Normal and its twin city Bloomington have about 130,000 people, low rent, a walkable uptown and a big employer base in insurance and Rivian's electric vehicle plant. Chicago is two hours by Amtrak.
Form I-20 issued by Illinois State
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 1 November 2026 priority date for fall 2027 scholarships; international applicants should apply by May to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most computing and business master's closing between 15 January and 1 June for fall.
Undergraduates can start in fall (August), spring (January) or summer (June). Most master's programmes, including computer science, information systems, the MBA and project management, admit for both fall and spring, while accountancy is fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The Office of International Engagement issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, information systems, the MBA, accountancy and project management attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE or GMAT for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on their grades when they apply by the priority date; need-based aid is not available. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which are common in computing, business and the sciences and usually include a tuition waiver.
