Illinois vs. Northern Illinois

Should I go to University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign or Northern Illinois University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Illinois or Northern Illinois 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 Illinois at Urbana Champaign vs. Northern Illinois University comparison
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Northern Illinois University College 3 College 4
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Northern Illinois University
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Overview

 Illinois Northern Illinois
Location Champaign, IL Dekalb, IL
Setting Small City Small Suburban
Enrollment 56,916 15,649
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #106 #454
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinois.edu niu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Illinois Northern Illinois
Tuition (In State) $12,474 $9,790
Tuition (Out of State) $30,446 $9,790
Room & Board $12,720 $11,420
Avg Net Price $14,544 $13,884
Avg Grant Aid $16,552 $12,552
% Receiving Grant Aid 54% 99%

Admission

 Illinois Northern Illinois
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 63,257 25,961
Admitted 28,354 18,348
Acceptance Rate 44.8% 70.7%
Enrolled % 28.1% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.3
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/34 19/25
SAT Range 1320/1510 940/1170
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 5, 2024 Aug 1, 2024

Academics

 Illinois Northern Illinois
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)

Outcomes

 Illinois Northern Illinois
Graduation Rate 82% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,500 $47,600
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $23,859
Median Loan Payment $211 $246

Diversity

 Illinois Northern Illinois
% Men 54% 46%
% Women 46% 54%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 48% 57%
% Black 6% 16%
% Hispanic 10% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 16% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 Illinois Northern Illinois
% In-State 71% 93%
% Out-of-State 11% 5%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is larger than than Northern Illinois based on total student enrollment (56,916 students vs. 15,649 students)

Illinois vs. Northern Illinois Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois or Northern Illinois?

  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is 27.4% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($12,474.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 211% higher at Illinois than Northern Illinois University ($30,446.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Illinois ($13,884 vs. $14,544)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Illinois University are 11.4% lower than costs at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($11,420 vs. $12,720)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (99% vs. 54%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students is 31.9% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($16,552 vs. $12,552)

Illinois vs. Northern Illinois Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (1305) is 276 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
  • Incoming Illinois students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
  • Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
  • Northern Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (70.7%) than Illinois (44.8%)

Illinois vs. Northern Illinois Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Illinois is higher than Northern Illinois University (82% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign earn on average $18,900 more per year than Northern Illinois graduates after ten years. ($66,500 vs. $47,600)
  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students graduate with a $3,359 lower median federal student loan debt than Northern Illinois graduates. ($20,500 vs. $23,859)
  • Illinois graduates are paying $35 less per month on federal student loans than Northern Illinois graduates. ($211 vs. $246)
  • More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 61%)

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