Expenses & Financial Aid

No matter what your family’s financial circumstances are, you can find a way to manage college costs. It might not be easy, depending on your situation, but consider it an investment in your future. The average college graduate earns more than $1,000,000 more in a lifetime than a worker with only a high school diploma.

The Financial Aid Office at Illinois State helps thousands of students finance their education each year.

Your Budget

You must think about the costs of tuition, housing, books, and living expenses when deciding how much money you’ll need and what your budget should be. Illinois State offers a convenient payment plan so you can spread your tuition payments throughout the semester for a small fee.

Illinois State freezes tuition rates for each incoming class, given a student finishes in four years. As a returning student this tuition freeze may still apply to you, but the length of time varies from student to student. Please contact Student Accounts to see how this program will work for you.

The tuition, fees, and other costs listed on the right are estimated for a student from Illinois who lives in a residence hall and takes a classload of 30 credit hours each year. Additional information on calculating tuition is available from the Student Accounts web site.

Financial Aid

To apply for financial aid at Illinois State, you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. The FAFSA is available starting on January 1 each year for the following academic year.

When you file your FAFSA, you'll need a Federal Student Aid PIN which you must request online ahead of time. If you are a dependent student, your parent or guardian must request one, too. Your PIN number allows you to electronically sign your FAFSA.

Be sure to file your FAFSA by March 1 for full consideration for all financial aid programs. If you do, you'll receive your award notice in early April.

For additional information, please visit the Financial Aid Office.

Expenses for 2012-2013

The estimates below are calculated based on a student who takes 15 credit hours each semester, lives on campus with a roommate, and selects the seven-day unlimited meal plan. Books, supplies, transportation, clothing, recreation, and other expenses are not paid directly to the University, but should be considered as you are budgeting.

Tuition and fees*

$13,009

Room and board

$9,624

Total

$22,633

* For most students, tuition rates remain the same for four years. Tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $20,450. However, students from neighboring states (Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky) and some academically talented students (as determined by the University) are eligible for a rate of tuition equal to students who live in Illinois, a savings of $8,000 per year.