Illinois State University

**Who We Are** We at Illinois State University work as a diverse community of scholars with a commitment to fostering a small-college atmosphere with large-university opportunities. High Retention and Graduation Rates Over the past decade, our retention and graduation rates have been in the top 10% in the nation. Our students love their time at Illinois State and complete their degrees on time. First-Choice Institution Illinois State remains a first-choice institution. We have a [strong enrollment of more than 20,000 students](https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2022/09/illinois-state-welcomes-largest-freshman-class-in-35-years/), while maintaining academic quality and small class sizes. Civically Engaged Campus Illinois State’s campuswide commitment to our core value of civic engagement has earned us recognition with the [Elective Classification for Community Engagement](https://civicengagement.illinoisstate.edu/about/carnegie/), as an [Excellence and Innovation Award for Civic Learning and Community Engagement](https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2021/09/illinois-state-university-receives-national-award-for-civic-engagement/) recipient, and as a [Voter Friendly Campus](https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2023/04/illinois-state-university-receives-national-voter-friendly-campus-designation-2/). Bang for the Buck U.S. News & World Report has ranked Illinois State as the best value public university in Illinois. We support students while they’re in college—and set them up to succeed after graduation.