Illinois State University

Normal·university

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76%

Acceptance rate

20,000

Enrollment

About Illinois State University

Large public university in Illinois. Strong business, education, and STEM programs.

Campus & Location

Province

Campus setting

Suburban

Cost of living: Housing: USD 900–2,500/mo | Food: USD 380–650/mo | Costs vary widely by city.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

All graduates qualify for 12-month OPT. STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total work authorisation.

Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents

A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:

GPA 3.060%+ in NEB +2, B+ average in Cambridge A-levels, or Second Division in a TU bachelor's degree.

GPA 3.370%+ in NEB +2 or First Division in a TU bachelor's degree.

GPA 3.675%+ in NEB +2 or First Division with Distinction in a TU bachelor's degree.

IELTS 6.5The most common graduate minimum — achievable with 2–3 months of focused preparation. IELTS 7.0+ needed for the most competitive programs.

Use our GPA converter to translate your exact score to the 4.0 scale.

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Uses published minimum requirements. Final decisions are always at the university's discretion. Use our GPA converter to get your score on the 4.0 scale.

For Nepali students — United States

What makes United States work for students from Nepal

MoEST NOC (mandatory)

Required for every Nepali student before applying for a student visa or remitting tuition. Takes 2–3 weeks from Keshar Mahal, Kathmandu (Ministry of Education). NOC checklist →

Work after study — Optional Practical Training (OPT)

12 months standard OPT; STEM degrees get 24-month extension (36 months total). Must work in field of study. Full visa guide →

Popular courses for Nepali students

Computer Science & IT · Engineering · Business Administration (MBA) · Data Science & Analytics

STEM OPT extension is critical — choose a STEM-designated program for the 3-year total OPT.

Graduate employment

USD 75,000–120,000/yr for CS/Engineering in major tech hubs (NYC, Bay Area, Seattle).

Silicon Valley, NYC, Seattle, and Austin are top destinations for Nepali tech graduates. H-1B lottery is the next step after OPT.

Nepali community

250,000+ Nepali diaspora in the US — concentrated in New York, Dallas, DC, and Bay Area.

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