Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
ISU Southern Illinois University UIC Western Illinois University DePaul Illinois WMU EIU Bradley University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Loyola Northwest| Illinois College | Northern Illinois University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Illinois College | Northern Illinois | ||
| Location | Jacksonville, IL | Dekalb, IL | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 958 | 15,504 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #488 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ic.edu | niu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Illinois College | Northern Illinois | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $36,870 | $9,790 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $36,870 | $9,790 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,264 | $12,800 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,255 | $13,533 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $30,139 | $13,565 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 98% |
Admission |
Illinois College | Northern Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,660 | 24,177 | ||
| Admitted | 2,733 | 17,033 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.7% | 70.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 9.3% | 12.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.63 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 978/1183 | 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 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Illinois College | Northern Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 14:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Illinois College | Northern Illinois | ||
| Graduation Rate | 57% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,300 | $47,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 79% | 61% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $23,859 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $246 |
Diversity |
Illinois College | Northern Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 11% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 69% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 16% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 15% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Illinois College | Northern Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 74% | 93% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 20% | 5% | ||
Campus |
Illinois College | Northern Illinois | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Illinois University is larger than than Illinois College based on total student enrollment (15,504 students vs. 958 students)
Illinois College vs. Northern Illinois Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Illinois College or Northern Illinois?
- Illinois College is 276.6% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($36,870.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 276.6% higher at Illinois College than Northern Illinois University ($36,870.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Illinois College ($13,533 vs. $17,255)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois College are 24.7% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($10,264 vs. $12,800)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois College than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois College students is 122.2% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($30,139 vs. $13,565)
Illinois College vs. Northern Illinois Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Illinois College or Northern Illinois? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Northern Illinois or Illinois College .
- Accepted freshman Illinois College students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
- Illinois College has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than Northern Illinois (70.5%)
Illinois College vs. Northern Illinois Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Illinois 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 Illinois College.
- The graduation rate at Illinois College is higher than Northern Illinois University (57% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $2,300 more per year than Illinois College graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $45,300)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $3,141 lower median federal student loan debt than Illinois College graduates. ($23,859 vs. $27,000)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Illinois College graduates. ($246 vs. $279)
- More Illinois College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 61%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/