UAFS vs. Northeastern Illinois University

Should I go to University of Arkansas Fort Smith or Northeastern Illinois University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UAFS or Northeastern Illinois 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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University of Arkansas Fort Smith vs. Northeastern Illinois University comparison
University of Arkansas Fort Smith Northeastern Illinois University College 3 College 4
Northeastern Illinois University
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Overview

UAFS Northeastern Illinois University
Location Fort Smith, AR Chicago, IL
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 5,506 5,504
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #736
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uafortsmith.edu neiu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UAFS Northeastern Illinois University
Tuition (In State) $4,512 $10,343
Tuition (Out of State) $11,376 $20,686
Room & Board $9,799 $10,742
Avg Net Price $10,387 $14,669
Avg Grant Aid $7,827 $12,560
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 85%

Admission

UAFS Northeastern Illinois University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,677 8,481
Admitted 2,181 5,971
Acceptance Rate 81.5% 70.4%
Enrolled % 40.6% 9.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.1
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/21
SAT Range 810/1010
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

UAFS Northeastern Illinois University
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Precision Production Trades (10%)
  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (10%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

UAFS Northeastern Illinois University
Graduation Rate 23% 23%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,000 $40,000
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,132 $14,500
Median Loan Payment $146 $149

Diversity

UAFS Northeastern Illinois University
% Men 0% 9%
% Women 1% 18%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 70% 33%
% Black 4% 10%
% Hispanic 11% 37%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 2%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

UAFS Northeastern Illinois University
% In-State 86% 98%
% Out-of-State 13% 1%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Arkansas Fort Smith is larger than than Northeastern Illinois University based on total student enrollment (5,506 students vs. 5,504 students)

UAFS vs. Northeastern Illinois University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or Northeastern Illinois University?

  • Northeastern Illinois University is 129.2% more expensive to attend than UAFS for in-state tuition ($10,343.00 vs. $4,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 81.8% higher at Northeastern Illinois University than University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($20,686.00 vs. $11,376.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than Northeastern Illinois University ($10,387 vs. $14,669)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 9.6% lower than costs at Northeastern Illinois University ($9,799 vs. $10,742)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than Northeastern Illinois University (99% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern Illinois University students is 60.5% larger than aid received University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($12,560 vs. $7,827)

UAFS vs. Northeastern Illinois University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman UAFS students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (3.1)
  • UAFS has a higher acceptance rate (81.5%) than Northeastern Illinois University (70.4%)

UAFS vs. Northeastern Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UAFS or Northeastern Illinois 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 Northeastern Illinois University and UAFS.

  • The graduation rate at UAFS is the same as at Northeastern Illinois University (23% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from Northeastern Illinois University earn on average $5,000 more per year than UAFS graduates after ten years. ($40,000 vs. $35,000)
  • University of Arkansas Fort Smith students graduate with a $368 lower median federal student loan debt than Northeastern Illinois University graduates. ($14,132 vs. $14,500)
  • UAFS graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Northeastern Illinois University graduates. ($146 vs. $149)
  • More Northeastern Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAFS students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 47%)

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