Eureka College vs. Northern Illinois

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

Eureka College Northern Illinois
Location Eureka, IL Dekalb, IL
Setting Town Fringe Small Suburban
Enrollment 559 15,649
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #454
Religious Affiliation Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eureka.edu niu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Eureka College Northern Illinois
Tuition (In State) $27,450 $9,790
Tuition (Out of State) $27,450 $9,790
Room & Board $10,353 $11,420
Avg Net Price $19,443 $13,884
Avg Grant Aid $19,367 $12,552
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Eureka College Northern Illinois
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 934 25,961
Admitted 810 18,348
Acceptance Rate 86.7% 70.7%
Enrolled % 18.6% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.22 3.3
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/23 19/25
SAT Range 870/1155 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 Aug 15, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Eureka College Northern Illinois
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • History (8%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)

Outcomes

Eureka College Northern Illinois
Graduation Rate 65% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,800 $47,600
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,375 $23,859
Median Loan Payment $262 $246

Diversity

Eureka College Northern Illinois
% Men 53% 46%
% Women 47% 54%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 84% 57%
% Black 5% 16%
% Hispanic 3% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Eureka College Northern Illinois
% In-State 85% 93%
% Out-of-State 14% 5%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Illinois University is larger than than Eureka College based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 559 students)

Eureka College vs. Northern Illinois Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Eureka College or Northern Illinois?

  • Eureka College is 180.4% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($27,450.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 180.4% higher at Eureka College than Northern Illinois University ($27,450.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Eureka College ($13,884 vs. $19,443)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eureka College are 10.3% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($10,353 vs. $11,420)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eureka College than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eureka College students is 54.3% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($19,367 vs. $12,552)

Eureka College vs. Northern Illinois Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Eureka College (1033) is 4 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
  • Incoming Eureka College students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Northern Illinois (22)
  • Accepted freshman Northern Illinois students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Eureka College (3.22)
  • Eureka College has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)

Eureka College vs. Northern Illinois Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Eureka College 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 Eureka College.

  • The graduation rate at Eureka College is higher than Northern Illinois University (65% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $8,800 more per year than Eureka College graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $38,800)
  • Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $1,516 lower median federal student loan debt than Eureka College graduates. ($23,859 vs. $25,375)
  • Northern Illinois graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Eureka College graduates. ($246 vs. $262)
  • More Eureka College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 61%)

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