Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
ISU Southern Illinois University UIC Western Illinois University DePaul Illinois WMU EIU Bradley University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Loyola Northwest| Northern Illinois University | Columbia College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northern Illinois | Columbia College | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Columbia, MO | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,649 | 6,046 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | ccis.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | Columbia College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $24,326 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $24,326 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,420 | $8,670 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $22,824 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $13,725 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 90% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,961 | - | ||
| Admitted | 18,348 | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | Open | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.59 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | |||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2024 |
Academics |
Northern Illinois | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 20:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | Columbia College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 39% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $41,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 40% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $22,034 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $227 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 55% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 25% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 56% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 42% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | Columbia College | ||
| 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 Columbia College based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 6,046 students)
Northern Illinois vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or Columbia College?
- Columbia College is 148.5% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($24,326.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 148.5% higher at Columbia College than Northern Illinois University ($24,326.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Columbia College ($13,884 vs. $22,824)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 31.7% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($8,670 vs. $11,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than Columbia College (99% vs. 90%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 9.3% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($13,725 vs. $12,552)
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or Columbia College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Columbia College or Northern Illinois .
- Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
Northern Illinois vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or Columbia 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 Columbia College and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than Columbia College (56% vs. 39%)
- Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $5,800 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $41,800)
- Columbia College students graduate with a $1,825 lower median federal student loan debt than Northern Illinois graduates. ($22,034 vs. $23,859)
- Columbia College graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than Northern Illinois graduates. ($227 vs. $246)
- More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 40%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/