Undergrad Programs Graduate Programs

---

Illinois State University Ranking Badges

Illinois State earned 141 ranking badges in the 2027 College Factual rankings: 2 in the top 1%, 37 in the top 5%, 53 in the top 10% and 49 in the top 15% of the schools in each ranking. Its highest placement is #1 of 48 in Top Ranked Veterans for General Engineering Technology, a top 1% award.

Key facts

• Badges earned: 141 (2027 edition)
• In the top 1% / top 5%: 2 / 37
• Highest placement: #1 of 48, a top 1% award
• Fields of study with a badge: 24
• Placements this edition: 400
• Badge cutoff: a top 15% placement in a ranking

Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.

How Many Ranking Badges Has Illinois State University Earned?

Illinois State University holds 141 ranking badges across 24 fields of study, 39 of them in the top 5% or better; each badge is an award for placing in the top 15% of a ranking. Rankings on this page are updated as new federal data is released. These badges come from the 2027 edition. For every ranking, the check mark shows the top tier achieved. Explore our data sources and methodologies. Want to feature these awards on your college’s site? Administrators can contact us.

Count by Award Level

Award Level	Badges
Top 1%	2
Top 5%	37
Top 10%	53
Top 15%	49
Total	141

What Is Illinois State University Known For?

Illinois State University is best known for Business, Management & Marketing: 9 of its 77 traditional-student awards are in that field. Its top-ranked majors include General Agriculture, Legal Support Services and Teacher Education Grade Specific. Its highest traditional-student placement is #2 of 143 in Most Popular for General Agriculture.

College Overall

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Overall Best			✓
Overall Best (Great Lakes)			✓
Overall Best (Illinois)			✓
Most Popular (Great Lakes)			✓
Most Popular (Illinois)			✓

Agriculture

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
General Agriculture
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular				✓

Business, Management & Marketing

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked		✓
Accounting
Top Ranked		✓
Business Administration & Management
Top Ranked		✓
Finance & Financial Management
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular	✓
Management Information Systems
Top Ranked	✓
Marketing
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular			✓
Most Focused		✓

Communication & Journalism

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked		✓
Communication & Media Studies
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular		✓

Communications Technology/Support

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Graphic Communications
Highest Paid Graduates		✓

Computer & Information Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked	✓
Computer Software Applications
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular		✓
Information Technology
Top Ranked	✓

Education

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
Special Education
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular			✓
Teacher Education Grade Specific
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
Teacher Education Subject Specific
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular			✓

Engineering Technologies

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Industrial Production Technology
Most Popular	✓

English Language & Literature

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Most Popular		✓
General English Literature
Most Popular			✓

Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked	✓
Ethnic Studies
Top Ranked	✓

Family, Consumer & Human Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked		✓
Child Development & Family Studies
Top Ranked		✓
General Family & Consumer Sciences
Most Popular	✓

Health Professions

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked	✓
Communication Sciences
Most Popular	✓
Dietetics & Nutrition Services
Most Popular			✓
Health/Medical Admin Services
Top Ranked		✓
Nursing
Top Ranked	✓
Public Health
Highest Paid Graduates			✓

History

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Most Popular			✓
History
Most Popular			✓

Law Enforcement & Firefighting

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Criminal Justice & Corrections
Top Ranked			✓

Legal Professions

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Legal Support Services
Top Ranked			✓

Liberal Arts & Humanities

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked		✓
Liberal Arts General Studies
Top Ranked		✓

Library Science

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked		✓
Library & Information Science
Top Ranked		✓

Mathematics & Statistics

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Mathematics
Most Popular			✓

Natural Resources & Conservation

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked		✓
Natural Resources Conservation
Top Ranked	✓

Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular		✓
Health & Physical Education
Top Ranked		✓
Recreation Administration
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular		✓

Psychology

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked		✓
General Psychology
Top Ranked		✓

Social Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Geography & Cartography
Most Popular	✓
Sociology
Most Popular		✓

Visual & Performing Arts

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Design & Applied Arts
Top Ranked			✓
Drama & Theater Arts
Most Popular		✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Fine & Studio Arts
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
Highest Paid Graduates	✓
Music
Top Ranked		✓

How Does Illinois State University Rank in Athletics?

In College Factual’s 2027 athletics rankings, Illinois State University earned 2 badges across 2 sports; its highest placement is #102 of 846 in Softball.

Women’s Sports

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Softball	✓
Volleyball	✓

How Does Illinois State University Rank for Online Students?

In College Factual’s 2027 online-program rankings, Illinois State University earned 3 badges across 3 online programs, 1 of them in the top 5% or better; its highest placement is #5 of 199 in Most Popular Online for Special Education.

Education

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Special Education
Most Popular Online			✓
Teacher Education Grade Specific
Most Popular Online	✓

Health Professions

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Nursing
Most Popular Online	✓

How Does Illinois State University Rank for Veterans?

In College Factual’s 2027 veterans rankings, Illinois State University earned 59 badges, 10 of them in the top 5% or better; its highest placement is #1 of 48 in Top Ranked Veterans for General Engineering Technology.

College Overall

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Best for Veterans			✓

Agriculture

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
General Agriculture
Top Ranked Veterans	✓

Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
General Biology
Top Ranked Veterans		✓

Business, Management & Marketing

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans			✓
Accounting
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Business Administration & Management
Top Ranked Veterans			✓
Construction Management
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Finance & Financial Management
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
International Business
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Management Information Systems
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Marketing
Top Ranked Veterans		✓

Communication & Journalism

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Communication & Media Studies
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Journalism
Top Ranked Veterans	✓

Computer & Information Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Computer Information Systems
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Computer Science
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Computer Software Applications
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Information Technology
Top Ranked Veterans		✓

Education

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Curriculum & Instruction
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Educational Administration
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Special Education
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Student Counseling
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Teacher Education Grade Specific
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Teacher Education Subject Specific
Top Ranked Veterans		✓

Engineering Technologies

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
General Engineering Technology
Top Ranked Veterans				✓
Industrial Production Technology
Top Ranked Veterans			✓

English Language & Literature

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
General English Literature
Top Ranked Veterans	✓

Family, Consumer & Human Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Child Development & Family Studies
Top Ranked Veterans	✓

Health Professions

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans			✓
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Communication Sciences
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Health/Medical Admin Services
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Nursing
Top Ranked Veterans			✓
Public Health
Top Ranked Veterans	✓

Law Enforcement & Firefighting

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Criminal Justice & Corrections
Top Ranked Veterans			✓

Liberal Arts & Humanities

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans			✓
Liberal Arts General Studies
Top Ranked Veterans			✓

Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Health & Physical Education
Top Ranked Veterans		✓

Psychology

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Clinical & Counseling Psychology
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
General Psychology
Top Ranked Veterans		✓

Public & Social Service

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Social Work
Top Ranked Veterans	✓

Social Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Economics
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Political Science & Government
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Sociology
Top Ranked Veterans	✓

Visual & Performing Arts

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Design & Applied Arts
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Fine & Studio Arts
Top Ranked Veterans	✓

Continue Your Research on Illinois State

• All rankings for Illinois State
• Illinois State overview
• Best Colleges ranking
• Illinois State official website
• Illinois State on Wikipedia
• Illinois State on Twitter
• Illinois State on Facebook

Notes and References

These rankings are built on federal education data, 2027 edition. Illinois State University appears in 400 of the College Factual rankings covered on this page.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.