Illinois State University is one of the Midwest's oldest institutions of higher education, and was the first public university in the entire state when it was founded in 1857. Now located in the twin-city community of Bloomington and Normal, Illinois State University's campus encompasses 850 acres and more than 61 buildings. The campus also includes such venues as the Center for the Performing Arts (which includes a theatre and concert hall), a planetarium, and the Bone Student Center (which houses a 3,500 seat auditorium).

As an institution that emphasizes undergraduate studies, Illinois State University is comprised of six colleges that offer 66 undergraduate programs in over 160 different fields of study. For grad students, the Graduate School offers 39 master's, eight doctoral, and two specialist programs. Despite a large enrollment of over 20,000 students, the university is able to maintain a student-faculty ratio of 19:1, and 90 percent of undergraduate credit hours are taught by faculty members rather than graduate assistants. In addition, most Illinois State University faculty holds the highest degree in their respective fields.