Northern Illinois vs. GVSU

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

Northern Illinois GVSU
Location Dekalb, IL Allendale, MI
Setting Small Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 15,649 21,648
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #454 #583
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website niu.edu gvsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northern Illinois GVSU
Tuition (In State) $9,790 $13,952
Tuition (Out of State) $9,790 $19,856
Room & Board $11,420 $10,140
Avg Net Price $13,884 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $12,552 $8,811
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 93%

Admission

Northern Illinois GVSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,961 17,123
Admitted 18,348 15,474
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 90.4%
Enrolled % 13.3% 25%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.65
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 21/27
SAT Range 940/1170 960/1210
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 May 1, 2024

Academics

Northern Illinois GVSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Northern Illinois GVSU
Graduation Rate 56% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,600 $44,600
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,859 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $246 $258

Diversity

Northern Illinois GVSU
% Men 46% 38%
% Women 54% 62%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 83%
% Black 16% 5%
% Hispanic 15% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Northern Illinois GVSU
% In-State 93% 91%
% Out-of-State 5% 8%

Campus

Northern Illinois GVSU
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

  • Grand Valley State University is larger than than Northern Illinois based on total student enrollment (21,648 students vs. 15,649 students)

Northern Illinois vs. GVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or GVSU?

  • Grand Valley State University is 42.5% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($13,952.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 102.8% higher at GVSU than Northern Illinois University ($19,856.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than GVSU ($13,884 vs. $17,105)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 12.6% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($10,140 vs. $11,420)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than Grand Valley State University (99% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 42.5% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($12,552 vs. $8,811)

Northern Illinois vs. GVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Grand Valley State University (1090) is 61 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
  • Incoming GVSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
  • Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
  • GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)

Northern Illinois vs. GVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at GVSU is higher than Northern Illinois University (63% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $3,000 more per year than GVSU graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $44,600)
  • Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $1,141 lower median federal student loan debt than GVSU graduates. ($23,859 vs. $25,000)
  • Northern Illinois graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than GVSU graduates. ($246 vs. $258)
  • More GVSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 61%)

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