North Central College vs. Northern Illinois

Should I go to North Central College or Northern Illinois University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if North Central College or Northern Illinois is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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North Central College vs. Northern Illinois University comparison
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North Central College Northern Illinois University
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Overview

North Central College Northern Illinois
Location Naperville, IL Dekalb, IL
Setting Midsize City Small Suburban
Enrollment 2,695 15,649
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #340 #454
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northcentralcollege.edu niu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

North Central College Northern Illinois
Tuition (In State) $42,866 $9,790
Tuition (Out of State) $42,866 $9,790
Room & Board $11,998 $11,420
Avg Net Price $25,285 $13,884
Avg Grant Aid $30,776 $12,552
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

North Central College Northern Illinois
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,099 25,961
Admitted 3,104 18,348
Acceptance Rate 60.9% 70.7%
Enrolled % 15.6% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 22/28 19/25
SAT Range 1020/1240 940/1170
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Apr 15, 2024 Aug 1, 2024

Academics

North Central College Northern Illinois
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)

Outcomes

North Central College Northern Illinois
Graduation Rate 64% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 $47,600
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $23,859
Median Loan Payment $258 $246

Diversity

North Central College Northern Illinois
% Men 47% 46%
% Women 53% 54%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 71% 57%
% Black 4% 16%
% Hispanic 11% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

North Central College Northern Illinois
% In-State 85% 93%
% Out-of-State 11% 5%

Campus

North Central College Northern Illinois
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Illinois University is larger than than North Central College based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 2,695 students)

North Central College vs. Northern Illinois Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, North Central College or Northern Illinois?

  • North Central College is 337.9% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($42,866.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 337.9% higher at North Central College than Northern Illinois University ($42,866.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than North Central College ($13,884 vs. $25,285)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Illinois University are 5.1% lower than costs at North Central College ($11,420 vs. $11,998)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at North Central College than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Central College students is 145.2% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($30,776 vs. $12,552)

North Central College vs. Northern Illinois Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, North Central College or Northern Illinois? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Northern Illinois or North Central College .

  • The average SAT score at North Central College (1125) is 96 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
  • Incoming North Central College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
  • Accepted freshman North Central College students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
  • Northern Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (70.7%) than North Central College (60.9%)

North Central College vs. Northern Illinois Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, North Central College or Northern Illinois? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Northern Illinois and North Central College.

  • The graduation rate at North Central College is higher than Northern Illinois University (64% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from North Central College earn on average $1,300 more per year than Northern Illinois graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $47,600)
  • Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $1,141 lower median federal student loan debt than North Central College graduates. ($23,859 vs. $25,000)
  • Northern Illinois graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than North Central College graduates. ($246 vs. $258)
  • More North Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 61%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/