Graduating Redbirds by the numbers: May 2025

Nearly 3,500 Illinois State University students will earn degrees this May, with spring commencement scheduled for Friday, May 9-Saturday, May 10, 2025, in CEFCU Arena.
Here’s a numerical look at this spring’s graduates.
Total class size: 3,481
Number of undergraduate students: 2,877
Number of graduate students: 604
Number of international students: 142
Students graduating with honors (3.65 GPA or higher): more than 1,200
Students earning two degrees simultaneously: 31
Military-connected graduates (veterans and current National Guard and Reserve members): 56
Age of oldest graduate: 75
Age of youngest graduate: 19
Number of U.S. states represented: 31
Most common zip code: 61761 (Normal)
Most common zip code outside of Bloomington-Normal: 60047 (Lake Zurich)
Most common zip code outside of Illinois: 63368 (O’Fallon, Missouri)
Most common undergraduate major: marketing
Most common undergraduate minor: psychology
Most common graduate programs: speech-language pathology
Farthest (away from Normal) home state/country: Washington (U.S.); New Zealand (international)
For profiles on Redbirds who are celebrating graduation this May, read the Graduating Redbirds series. For more information about how Illinois State is celebrating commencement, visit the Graduation Services website.
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