Illinois State University Reviews

  • 70 Reviews
  • Normal (IL)
  • Annual Tuition: $27,011
98% of 70 students said this degree improved their career prospects
93% of 70 students said they would recommend this school to others
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Student & Graduate Reviews

Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 9/29/2015
  • Degree: English
"Getting my degree at Illinois State University was a great experience. The quality of education and rich, social atmosphere far surpassed my expectations. I am grateful that I was able to attend when I did and develop the tools that have stayed with me all these years."
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 9/29/2015
  • Degree: Special Education
"I loved ISU. I think the special education program is phenomenal."
Allison
  • Reviewed: 9/1/2015
  • Degree: Political Science
"Illinois State has a beautiful campus with just the right amount of people. It's not too large, so you still get the small class sizes. It's not too small either, so there are a lot of opportunities to meet new people. Bloomington-Normal has a lot to offer, so there is a lot to do off campus."
sfla11
  • Reviewed: 9/1/2015
  • Degree: Holistic Medicine
"It was an enjoyable experience. Helps to be involved with a fraternity or sorority. the major I chose was really cool and the faculty advisor for it was very knowledgeable."
KristiSunshine
  • Reviewed: 8/19/2015
  • Degree: Communications
"Illinois State University is a wonderful institution. The perfect mix of State school charm with quality professors and nationally recognized academic fields, I highly recommend Illinois State. The campus is evolving with better technology, new and restructured buildings and services for students while maintaining the charm all alumni know and love. The Quad is drop dead gorgeous in the fall and often times on a beautiful fall day, I miss being able to walk to class in such a welcoming environment. Redbirds work hard and play hard and I have many fine memories from my time in Normal, Illinois. In a nutshell, Go 'Birds!"
collieflower
  • Reviewed: 8/10/2015
  • Degree: Communications
"Large school but feels like a small community. Loved the campus, town, and activities available for college students. You have to work hard, but there are a lot of career opportunities and organizations on campus that set you up for success."
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 8/10/2015
  • Degree: Social Sciences
"I really enjoyed my college experience. There were many helpful opportunities throughout my time spent there and the environment was friendly and welcoming."
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 8/4/2015
  • Degree: Political Science
"I was surprised with the professionalism and prestige I found with my peers and professors at this university."
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 8/4/2015
  • Degree: Political Science
"I was surprised with the professionalism and prestige I found with my peers and professors at this university."
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 7/13/2015
  • Degree: Finance
"The campus is beautiful, the professors are very knowledgeable, finance classes are very informative."
2007 grad
  • Reviewed: 6/30/2015
  • Degree: English
"ISU was a great place to go to college. The education I received prepared me quite well for the working world, giving me experiences I can still reflect upon 10 years later. The people there were very friendly and I met a great group of friends that I still keep in contact with to this day."
LowFrequencyVibes
  • Reviewed: 6/11/2015
  • Degree: Accounting
"College experiences are subjective, so my thoughts may not be the same as yours or others. Personally, I thought the teachers at Illinois State were great, as well as all of the facilities. The social life is what you make of it. House parties tend to dominate the landscape at Illinois State, although there are a decent amount of bars close to campus. The main bar strip is a 5-minute taxi ride away located in downtown Bloomington. Looking back on my experience at Illinois State, I wish I had been more involved and taken advantage of their golf course more."
Michele Wattman
  • Reviewed: 4/22/2015
  • Degree: Health Sciences
"At Illinois State University, the faculty and staff support is amazing. The connections built with professors lead to great one-on-one relationships inside the classroom. The class size of the Au.D program seems to be perfect for my educational experience because myself and 5 other students receive a great opportunity to indulge in our field. I feel as though graduate assistantships and other sorts of financial aid are indeed competitive, but that makes me strive even more to achieve those forms of aid."
Ariane Chew
  • Reviewed: 12/16/2014
  • Degree: Communications
"I love that our professors have tons of real world experience and that we can choose whether we want to do a thesis or not. Illinois State's program is very competitive but for good reason, we have some of the best and brightest students."
Dana
  • Reviewed: 8/7/2014
  • Degree: Insurance
"Everything at Illinois State University was amazing! Class sizes are reasonable in general ed courses and small for classes related to majors. Professors know students individually and really want them to succeed. The university does a great job of creating a positive and motivation culture to do well."
Erin Whitson
  • Reviewed: 8/4/2014
  • Degree: Anthropology
"I know most people don't go into their Master's program expecting to enjoy the experience, but I did. I continually loved heading to class to soak in more information. Though some of the professor's teaching styles were a bit...awkward (or a bit uncomfortable at first), they, after everyone got to know everyone else, got more comfortable with us and we got more comfortable with them. I wouldn't trade the experience for the world and really do think of Illinois State University with fond memories when I think back. I miss it at times, and hope nothing but the best to students interested in exploring the world of archaeology through that department!"
Ben McNair
  • Reviewed: 6/15/2014
  • Degree: Sociology
"Many master's students at ISU have the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant, which includes a tuition waiver and stipend. This makes ISU an attractive option for students looking for a terminal master's program. In addition, it's located in a quiet area in central Illinois that's an easy drive or train ride away from Chicago."
Kelsey Williams
  • Reviewed: 4/8/2014
  • Degree: Communications (Speech Pathology)
"A pro of my graduate program is that there is a clinic in the same building my classes are located. We are also able to record our sessions to review later. Weekly meetings with our CCC-SLP supervisors are required and very helpful for our growth as a speech pathologist. We also have a lot of graduate assistantships offered through the department and if a student is not able to obtain one, faculty are very helpful in finding them in other departments. Another pro is that there is a graduate lounge for my cohort to work in throughout the day. A con of my graduate program is the large focus it places on educational settings. In the past few years, it has become more medical but for students like myself, it would be ideal to have a more even balance. Another con is the out of date building my classes and clinical sessions are located in. Some of the classrooms are too small for the amount of students and the clinic rooms are too small to do some activities. Overall, I am very pleased with my choice of attending Illinois State University."
Casey Coker
  • Reviewed: 3/24/2014
  • Degree: Political Science
"ISU's Politics and Government graduate program provided a great education and opportunity to participate in academic professional advancement. Obviously, as with most programs, there are weaknesses within the faculty. However, the opportunity to collaborate with professors with research interests that align with your own is vital and appreciated."
Cori Baker
  • Reviewed: 1/15/2014
  • Degree: Social Work
"Illinois State provides a strong MSW program. It encourages the student to utilize their critical thinking skills to find new ways to influence and help the community around them. I recommend this program to anyone in the area, the professors are focused on ensuring that you have the experience and knowledge you need before you enter into the work force."