Northern Illinois vs. Central College

Should I go to Northern Illinois University or Central College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Northern Illinois or Central College 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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Northern Illinois University vs. Central College comparison
Northern Illinois University Central College College 3 College 4
Northern Illinois University Central College
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Overview

Northern Illinois Central College
Location Dekalb, IL Pella, IA
Setting Small Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 15,649 1,169
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #454 #519
Religious Affiliation - Reformed Church in America - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website niu.edu central.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northern Illinois Central College
Tuition (In State) $9,790 $19,800
Tuition (Out of State) $9,790 $19,800
Room & Board $11,420 $10,860
Avg Net Price $13,884 $23,303
Avg Grant Aid $12,552 $10,999
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Northern Illinois Central College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,961 1,970
Admitted 18,348 1,561
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 79.2%
Enrolled % 13.3% 22.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.52
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 19/26
SAT Range 940/1170 1040/1218
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2024

Academics

Northern Illinois Central College
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)

Outcomes

Northern Illinois Central College
Graduation Rate 56% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,600 $48,000
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,859 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $246 $279

Diversity

Northern Illinois Central College
% Men 46% 52%
% Women 54% 48%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 87%
% Black 16% 2%
% Hispanic 15% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Northern Illinois Central College
% In-State 93% 73%
% Out-of-State 5% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Illinois University is larger than than Central College based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 1,169 students)

Northern Illinois vs. Central College Cost Comparison

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

  • Central College is 102.2% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($19,800.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 102.2% higher at Central College than Northern Illinois University ($19,800.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Central College ($13,884 vs. $23,303)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central College are 5.2% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($10,860 vs. $11,420)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central College than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 14.1% larger than aid received Central College ($12,552 vs. $10,999)

Northern Illinois vs. Central College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Central College (1068) is 39 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
  • Incoming Central College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
  • Accepted freshman Central College students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
  • Central College has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)

Northern Illinois vs. Central College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northern Illinois or Central College? 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 Central College and Northern Illinois.

  • The graduation rate at Central College is higher than Northern Illinois University (63% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Central College earn on average $400 more per year than Northern Illinois graduates after ten years. ($48,000 vs. $47,600)
  • Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $3,141 lower median federal student loan debt than Central College graduates. ($23,859 vs. $27,000)
  • Northern Illinois graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Central College graduates. ($246 vs. $279)
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 61%)

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