Illinois State University
Illinois State University is a public university in Normal, Illinois, founded in 1857, serving undergraduate, graduate, international, and education-major students across 200+ degree programs with a focus on teacher preparation, assistive technology training, and applied AI research.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1857
- HeadquartersNormal, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Illinois State University does
Illinois State University is a public state university located in Normal, Illinois, founded in 1857 as Illinois' first public institution of higher education. The university serves undergraduate, graduate, international, and non-traditional students across more than 200 degree options, with 85% of classes taught by professors rather than graduate assistants. Its four core revenue streams are academic tuition and fees, athletics (including six Missouri Valley Conference All-Sports Championships in seven years and a 2026 FCS national championship game appearance), philanthropic donations and endowments such as the Hagge Endowment for Innovation in Education, and external research grants (e.g., $150,000 NSF REGGIE award, HHS funding, ARCS Foundation grants).
The institution is diversifying into specialized learning environments: the SEAT Center houses over 1,200 assistive technology items for inclusive education, the Studio Teach makerspace supports STEM and arts-integrated teacher training, and the Education Now Lab conducts research into generative AI, simulations, and gaming for educational challenges. The Hagge Innovation Institute operates cross-disciplinary pilots including a Social Innovation Lab with YWCA McLean County and student-led geothermal feasibility research for campus operations. ISU also partnered with OSF HealthCare on a Kaggle-based Data Science Project Competition where 14 student teams built binary classification models to predict patient no-shows.
On the technology side, ISU recently previewed an AI-driven student experience pilot (Modo My Agent) at the HEUG Alliance Conference in March 2026, unifying access to PeopleSoft, Canvas, and Engage through a single mobile conversational interface. Distribution centers on on-campus instruction in Normal, Illinois, supplemented by mobile apps, virtual tours, and direct-to-consumer admissions channels (open houses, campus visits, virtual counselor appointments). The institution is publicly funded by the State of Illinois, governed by the Illinois Board of Higher Education with its own Board of Trustees, and is not investor-owned. Recent cost-side pressures include the February 2026 elimination of the tennis program amid NCAA revenue-sharing redistribution and an active AFSCME labor dispute over alleged strikebreaker hiring.
Illinois State University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Illinois State University
- Legal name
- Illinois State University
- Website
- https://IllinoisState.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1857
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Illinois State University is a public university in Normal, Illinois, founded in 1857, serving undergraduate, graduate, international, and education-major students across 200+ degree programs with a focus on teacher preparation, assistive technology training, and applied AI research.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Illinois State University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Undergraduate Teacher Education Colleges (EDAHAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Research Universities with Engineering/Polytechnic Emphasis (EDAHAAAD), Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)
Keywords
Where Illinois State University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Normal
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Illinois State University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Academic Programs: University generates revenue through tuition and fees from over 200 degree options including undergraduate majors, minors, and graduate programs serving students across various demographics including freshmen, transfers, international, and non-traditional students.
- Athletics: Athletic programs generate revenue and recognition, with the university winning MVC All-Sports Championships and participating in national competitions including FCS playoffs.
- Donations and Endowments: Alumni and community donations support scholarships, programs, and initiatives including the Sharon and Steve Hagge Endowment for Innovation in Education and various capital campaigns.
- Research Grants: University faculty and researchers secure external funding including NSF grants ($150,000 for REGGIE project), internal research grants, and specialized program grants such as ARCS Tier II grants.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Illinois State University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Illinois State University is a public higher education institution that delivers undergraduate and graduate academic programs across 200+ degree options, including majors, minors, and graduate degrees. It supplements classroom instruction with specialized teacher-preparation facilities such as the SEAT Center (1,200+ assistive technology items) and the Studio Teach makerspace, while also operating an AI-driven student experience platform (Modo My Agent) that unifies access to PeopleSoft, Canvas, and Engage through a mobile app.
Product overview
Illinois State University operates as a comprehensive public university offering educational programs and services. The institution provides an integrated technology ecosystem for students through the Modo My Agent AI-driven platform that unifies access to PeopleSoft, Canvas, and Engage systems. Specialized educational support includes the SEAT Center (offering 1,200+ assistive technology items) and Studio Teach makerspace for teacher training. Research and innovation programs include the Education Now Lab (exploring generative AI in education), Social Innovation Lab (community-focused design thinking), and annual data science competitions. Sustainability initiatives include the Front Yard FreeCycle program and Share Shop secondhand store. The university supports research through grant programs including NSF-funded projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Degree Programs
- Graduate Degree Programs
- Teacher Preparation Programs with SEAT Center and Studio Teach
- Athletics Programs (Redbirds)
- International Student Programs
Companies that use Illinois State University
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Illinois State University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability6 records
Feature3 records
Illinois State University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Hagge Innovation InstitutecoreHagge Innovation Institute facilitated student research on geothermal energy feasibility for campus operations and partnered with YWCA for Social Innovation Lab pilot, demonstrating university commitment to innovation and community engagement.
- OSF HealthCarecoreOSF HealthCare partnered with Illinois State University to host the Data Science Project Competition on Kaggle, challenging students to build machine learning models predicting patient no-shows for medical appointments. Fourteen teams participated in the two-month competition, providing hands-on healthcare data science experience.
- ModocoreModo collaborated with Illinois State to preview AI-driven student experience using Modo My Agent, integrating with PeopleSoft, Canvas, and Engage systems through a unified mobile app interface to help students access grades, schedules, financial information, and assignments.
- YWCA McLean CountyminorIllinois State students partnered with YWCA McLean County for a Social Innovation Lab pilot under the Hagge Innovation Institute, studying high child care costs using systems mapping and design thinking methodology. Students presented research and recommendations to YWCA's CEO.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Illinois State University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Northern Illinois University: Public Illinois regional comprehensive university of similar scale (~14K-20K students) offering undergraduate/graduate programs with comparable state-funded operating model and Midwest peer positioning.
- Western Illinois University: Illinois public regional comprehensive university of comparable scale, offering similar undergraduate breadth, teacher education, and Division I athletics, with overlapping recruitment geography.
- Missouri State University: MVC athletic conference peer with similar comprehensive public university scale and program mix, serving as a direct conference and regional recruitment comparable.
- Indiana State University: MVC peer and former state Normal school with similar teacher preparation legacy and comparable mid-sized public university footprint, competing for similar Midwest student demographics.
- Ball State University: Indiana public university of similar comprehensive scale and teacher education reputation (Teachers College heritage), with overlapping Midwestern recruitment territory and comparable NCAA Division I profile.
- University of Northern Iowa: Missouri Valley Conference peer institution with comparable size, teacher education heritage (also a former 'Normal' school), and Division I athletics profile — a direct athletic and academic peer.
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale: Illinois public research university with a comparable mix of comprehensive undergraduate programs, teacher education, and Division I athletics, sharing the same state funding and regulatory environment.
- Eastern Illinois University: Mid-sized Illinois public comprehensive university with similar teacher preparation heritage and small-campus footprint, competing for the same in-state applicant pool as ISU.
- Truman State University: Missouri public liberal arts and teacher preparation university of comparable size, with strong overlap in teacher prep and education program offerings that compete for similar student profiles.
Broad incumbents
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Illinois' flagship public research university operating at much larger scale; competes with ISU for top in-state applicants and faculty talent while sharing the same state-funded public higher education ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Illinois State University social profiles
Digital presenceIllinois State University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Illinois State University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Illinois State University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors2 records
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Illinois State University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Illinois State University
What does Illinois State University do?
Illinois State University is a public higher education institution that delivers undergraduate and graduate academic programs across 200+ degree options, including majors, minors, and graduate degrees. It supplements classroom instruction with specialized teacher-preparation facilities such as the SEAT Center (1,200+ assistive technology items) and the Studio Teach makerspace, while also operating an AI-driven student experience platform (Modo My Agent) that unifies access to PeopleSoft, Canvas, and Engage through a mobile app.
Is Illinois State University a public or private company?
Illinois State University is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Illinois State University founded?
Illinois State University was founded in 1857. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Illinois State University based?
Illinois State University is headquartered in Normal, United States, in the North America region.
How does Illinois State University make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Academic Programs are the primary driver. The others are athletics, donations and Endowments and research Grants.
Who are Illinois State University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, Missouri State University, Indiana State University, Ball State University, University of Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Eastern Illinois University and Truman State University. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Illinois State University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Illinois State University.
What industry is Illinois State University in?
Illinois State University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAFAA, Undergraduate Teacher Education Colleges, with a secondary code of EDAHAAAD, Public Research Universities with Engineering/Polytechnic Emphasis. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.