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Illinois State University

(ISU)

🇺🇸 United States / Illinois / Normal
Public R2 Est. 1857

About

Illinois State University (ISU) is a public research university in Normal, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1857 as Illinois State Normal University and is the oldest public university in Illinois. It operates additional facilities in its twin city, Bloomington, and in Springfield.

Ranking Overview

Ranking Snapshot

Ranked Top 1401 worldwide across 2 major ranking systems

QS #1401+ (2025)
US News #1945 (2026)

Ranked in 7 subject rankings

QS QS World University Rankings
# 1401+
2025
THE Times Higher Education World University Rankings
Not Ranked
ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities
Not Ranked
US News U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings
# =1,945
138
23.8
2026

Key Facts

Students
20,720
Staff
3,538

Historical Trend

Longitudinal View
QS QS
US News US News
1 201 401 601 801 1001 1201 1401 1601 1801 1950 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Rank
:
Score:

Top Subjects

Best-performing areas
151-200
Communication & Media Studies
Top 200
201-300
Law & Legal Studies
201-300
Business Administration
301-400
351-380
Education & Training
401-500
Psychology
401-450
Agriculture & Forestry

Subject Rankings

Detailed breakdown

ARWU

6 subjects
Subject
Rank
Score
Year
Communication & Media Studies 151-200 - 2022
Law & Legal Studies 201-300 - 2022
Business Administration 201-300 - 2022
Politics 301-400 - 2019
Education & Training 401-500 - 2025
Psychology 401-500 - 2024

QS

2 subjects
Subject
Rank
Score
Year
Education & Training 351-380 - 2023
Agriculture & Forestry 401-450 - 2024
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ranking of Illinois State University?

Illinois State University's performance in the latest university rankings: QS Rank 1401+, US News Rank =1,945.

When was Illinois State University founded?

Illinois State University was founded in 1857.

What are the top subjects at Illinois State University?

Top subjects at Illinois State University include: Communication & Media Studies, Law & Legal Studies, Business Administration, Politics, Education & Training.

Where is Illinois State University located?

Illinois State University is located in Normal, United States.