Northern Illinois vs. Central State University

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

Northern Illinois Central State University
Location Dekalb, IL Wilberforce, OH
Setting Small Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 15,649 5,434
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #454 #1023
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website niu.edu centralstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northern Illinois Central State University
Tuition (In State) $9,790 $5,176
Tuition (Out of State) $9,790 $7,176
Room & Board $11,420 $10,900
Avg Net Price $13,884 $10,194
Avg Grant Aid $12,552 $6,943
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 91%

Admission

Northern Illinois Central State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,961 3,814
Admitted 18,348 3,388
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 88.8%
Enrolled % 13.3% 18.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 2.8
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 14/18
SAT Range 940/1170 770/950
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 State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 21:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Northern Illinois Central State University
Graduation Rate 56% 24%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,600 $27,200
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 16%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,859 $39,000
Median Loan Payment $246 $403

Diversity

Northern Illinois Central State University
% Men 46% 30%
% Women 54% 70%
Racial Diversity High Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 57% 1%
% Black 16% 95%
% Hispanic 15% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Northern Illinois Central State University
% In-State 93% 55%
% Out-of-State 5% 36%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Illinois University is larger than than Central State University based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 5,434 students)

Northern Illinois vs. Central State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or Central State University?

  • Northern Illinois University is 89.1% more expensive to attend than Central State University for in-state tuition ($9,790.00 vs. $5,176.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.4% higher at Northern Illinois than Central State University ($9,790.00 vs. $7,176.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central State University than Northern Illinois ($10,194 vs. $13,884)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central State University are 4.8% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($10,900 vs. $11,420)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than Central State University (99% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 80.8% larger than aid received Central State University ($12,552 vs. $6,943)

Northern Illinois vs. Central State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Illinois University (1029) is 252 points higher than at Central State University (777)
  • Incoming Northern Illinois students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Central State University (16)
  • Accepted freshman Northern Illinois students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Central State University (2.8)
  • Central State University has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)

Northern Illinois vs. Central State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northern Illinois or Central State University? 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 State University and Northern Illinois.

  • The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than Central State University (56% vs. 24%)
  • Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $20,400 more per year than Central State University graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $27,200)
  • Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $15,141 lower median federal student loan debt than Central State University graduates. ($23,859 vs. $39,000)
  • Northern Illinois graduates are paying $157 less per month on federal student loans than Central State University graduates. ($246 vs. $403)
  • More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central State University students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 16%)

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