In recent years, more and more high-achieving students have been attracted to the actuarial program due to generous financial support in the form of scholarships and grants from many industry sources, including Allstate Insurance, Country Insurance and Financial Services, Katie School of Insurance and Financial Services, and State Farm Insurance. Of note is the prestigious State Farm Scholar title and scholarship offered to a select group of ISU’s best students. These State Farm Scholars are expected to perform at the level of the top 5% nationally in their mathematical skills and are expected to maintain at least a 3.70 Grade Point Average in their major.

The actuarial profession is relatively unknown in the society at large, yet being an actuary consistently rates among the best jobs based on reports of high job satisfaction. There are currently approximately 90 undergraduate students and 25 graduate students who are actively pursuing preparation for these exams through the Actuarial Program. Illinois State’s Actuarial Program offers academic classes covering the material on the first four actuarial examinations at the undergraduate level as well as the material on two more exams at the graduate level. In addition, a grant from the State Farm Foundation supports intensive reviews offered by the Department for the actuarial exams. Illinois State is one of only 12 programs in the nation recognized by the Society of Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society as an Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate Education and Research Program.