Northern Illinois vs. CMU

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

Northern Illinois CMU
Location Dekalb, IL Mount Pleasant, MI
Setting Small Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 15,649 14,557
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #454 #715
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website niu.edu cmich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northern Illinois CMU
Tuition (In State) $9,790 $13,200
Tuition (Out of State) $9,790 $13,200
Room & Board $11,420 $11,248
Avg Net Price $13,884 $15,605
Avg Grant Aid $12,552 $11,314
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 96%

Admission

Northern Illinois CMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,961 19,888
Admitted 18,348 15,701
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 78.9%
Enrolled % 13.3% 12.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.47
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 21/27
SAT Range 940/1170 980/1220
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 CMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Northern Illinois CMU
Graduation Rate 56% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,600 $44,500
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,859 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $246 $279

Diversity

Northern Illinois CMU
% Men 46% 40%
% Women 54% 60%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 79%
% Black 16% 8%
% Hispanic 15% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Northern Illinois CMU
% In-State 93% 90%
% Out-of-State 5% 9%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Illinois University is larger than than CMU based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 14,557 students)

Northern Illinois vs. CMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or CMU?

  • Central Michigan University is 34.8% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($13,200.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34.8% higher at CMU than Northern Illinois University ($13,200.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than CMU ($13,884 vs. $15,605)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Michigan University are 1.5% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($11,248 vs. $11,420)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than Central Michigan University (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 10.9% larger than aid received Central Michigan University ($12,552 vs. $11,314)

Northern Illinois vs. CMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Central Michigan University (1049) is 20 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
  • Incoming CMU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
  • Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)

Northern Illinois vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northern Illinois or CMU? 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 CMU and Northern Illinois.

  • The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than Central Michigan University (56% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $3,100 more per year than CMU graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $44,500)
  • Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $3,141 lower median federal student loan debt than CMU graduates. ($23,859 vs. $27,000)
  • Northern Illinois graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than CMU graduates. ($246 vs. $279)
  • More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 54%)

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