Affordable Alternatives to Illinois State University
Open-data reference.
We found 14 schools structurally similar to Illinois State University that cost less. 14 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.
Your School
Normal, Illinois · Public
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Illinois State University
Illinois State University posts an average net price of $19,398 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Illinois State University across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 14 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.
The maximum possible savings across this list is $9,235, achieved by University of Washington-Tacoma Campus at $10,163. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 14 of the 14 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Illinois State University’s $62,117, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $77,950.
The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.
Similar Schools That Cost Less
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.
| School | Net Price | Savings | Earnings (10yr) | Graduation | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI · Public Better Value | $14,182 | -$5,216 | $78,198 | 68.4% | 58% |
| University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Hartford, CT · Public Better Value | $16,403 | -$2,995 | $73,997 | 65.2% | 50% |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO · Public Better Value | $16,298 | -$3,100 | $82,957 | 64.0% | 49% |
| Rutgers University-Camden Camden, NJ · Public Better Value | $18,745 | -$653 | $74,479 | 66.6% | 49% |
| San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public Better Value | $13,760 | -$5,638 | $78,988 | 66.8% | 47% |
| George Mason University Fairfax, VA · Public Better Value | $17,915 | -$1,483 | $76,343 | 68.6% | 47% |
| University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell, WA · Public Better Value | $12,319 | -$7,079 | $78,466 | 66.8% | 46% |
| University of Connecticut-Avery Point Groton, CT · Public Better Value | $13,807 | -$5,591 | $73,997 | 59.1% | 45% |
| University of Delaware Newark, DE · Public Better Value | $17,799 | -$1,599 | $72,950 | 79.7% | 43% |
| University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma, WA · Public Better Value | $10,163 | -$9,235 | $78,466 | 62.8% | 42% |
| William & Mary Williamsburg, VA · Public Better Value | $19,096 | -$302 | $73,490 | 90.2% | 42% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC · Public Better Value | $11,655 | -$7,743 | $72,200 | 91.6% | 41% |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA · Public Better Value | $12,116 | -$7,282 | $102,772 | 93.2% | 40% |
| University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, CT · Public Better Value | $10,875 | -$8,523 | $73,997 | 56.1% | 40% |
Top Similar Alternatives
Quick picks from the full list – compare any two schools side by side
How We Match Schools
Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.
Only schools with a lower average net price than Illinois State University are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.
Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.