My Passion

A scholarship recipient, Dan Mardis came to Illinois State after earning an associate’s degree at a community college. A senior studying Information Systems and Business Administration, Mardis found the resources and direction he needs for a bright future.

“My marketing professor has influenced me to continue to do my best and to strive to be the person I want to be academically, and as an individual. He encouraged me to reach for success.”

Dan Mardis

Senior, Information Systems/
Business Administration

Who We Are

Our students explore the use of wind as an alternative energy source and help children overcoming speech impairments. They exhibit their paintings in the University Galleries and manage a $400,000 investment portfolio. Practical, real-world experiences as student-teachers or nurses prepare them to enter their professions wiith confidence.

See how you fit in...

Transfer Student Academic Profile

Students admitted for the 2009-2010 academic year had an average transfer grade point average of 3.1 on a 4.0 scale.
Transfer students make up almost half of the students who earn undergraduate degrees at Illinois State.
77 percent of transfer students come from two-year institutions. 23 percent come from four-year schools.

Where We Come From

Students come to Illinois State from across the country and around the world, but a majority of our students are from right here in Illinois.

Here are the community colleges in Illinois which sent the most transfer students to Illinois State last year:

Heartland Community College

Illinois Central College

College of DuPage

Parkland College

Joliet Junior College

William Rainey Harper College

Illinois Valley Community College

Moraine Valley Community College

College of Lake County

McHenry County College

Enrollment: Then and Now

43 students enrolled at Illinois State for the first term in fall 1857. In fall 2008, 1,704 transfer students enrolled at the University. More than 5,000 students made up the total incoming class.
The first commencement ceremony was held in 1860 for a graduating class of 10. In spring 2007, more than 3,000 students received degrees.
Enrollment grew from 4,469 in 1960 to 17,549 in 1970. Since the 1970s, the number of students has stayed about the same. In 2008, we had 20,450 students, 17,949 of whom were undergraduates.