Northern Illinois vs. Purdue Calumet

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

Northern Illinois Purdue Calumet
Location Dekalb, IL Hammond, IN
Setting Small Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 15,649 9,194
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #454
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website niu.edu purduecal.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northern Illinois Purdue Calumet
Tuition (In State) $9,790 $6,746
Tuition (Out of State) $9,790 $16,164
Room & Board $11,420 $7,560
Avg Net Price $13,884 $10,908
Avg Grant Aid $12,552 $5,703
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 58%

Admission

Northern Illinois Purdue Calumet
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,961 2,810
Admitted 18,348 1,649
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 58.7%
Enrolled % 13.3% 54%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.19
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 19/25 18/24
SAT Range 940/1170 940/1140
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Required
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2024

Academics

Northern Illinois Purdue Calumet
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 0:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Business (31%)
  • Engineering Technology (14%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Northern Illinois Purdue Calumet
Graduation Rate 56% 28%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,600 $42,500
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,859 $20,908
Median Loan Payment $246 $216

Diversity

Northern Illinois Purdue Calumet
% Men 46% 0%
% Women 54% 0%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 55%
% Black 16% 13%
% Hispanic 15% 19%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Northern Illinois Purdue Calumet
% In-State 93% -
% Out-of-State 5% -

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Illinois University is larger than than Purdue Calumet based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 9,194 students)

Northern Illinois vs. Purdue Calumet Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or Purdue Calumet?

  • Northern Illinois University is 45.1% more expensive to attend than Purdue Calumet for in-state tuition ($9,790.00 vs. $6,746.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 65.1% higher at Purdue Calumet than Northern Illinois University ($16,164.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Calumet Campus than Northern Illinois ($10,908 vs. $13,884)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Calumet Campus are 51.1% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($7,560 vs. $11,420)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than Purdue University Calumet Campus (99% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 120.1% larger than aid received Purdue University Calumet Campus ($12,552 vs. $5,703)

Northern Illinois vs. Purdue Calumet Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Illinois University (1029) is 69 points higher than at Purdue Calumet (960)
  • Accepted freshman Northern Illinois students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Purdue Calumet (3.19)
  • Northern Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (70.7%) than Purdue Calumet (58.7%)

Northern Illinois vs. Purdue Calumet Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northern Illinois or Purdue Calumet? 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 Purdue Calumet and Northern Illinois.

  • The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than Purdue University Calumet Campus (56% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $5,100 more per year than Purdue Calumet graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $42,500)
  • Purdue University Calumet Campus students graduate with a $2,951 lower median federal student loan debt than Northern Illinois graduates. ($20,908 vs. $23,859)
  • Purdue Calumet graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than Northern Illinois graduates. ($216 vs. $246)
  • More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue Calumet students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 38%)

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