Illinois College vs. Northern Illinois

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

Illinois College Northern Illinois
Location Jacksonville, IL Dekalb, IL
Setting Distant Town Small Suburban
Enrollment 1,029 15,649
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #687 #454
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) $35,796 $9,790
Tuition (Out of State) $35,796 $9,790
Room & Board $9,964 $11,420
Avg Net Price $16,296 $13,884
Avg Grant Aid $29,785 $12,552
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Illinois College Northern Illinois
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,243 25,961
Admitted 2,503 18,348
Acceptance Rate 77.2% 70.7%
Enrolled % 9.3% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.63 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/26 19/25
SAT Range 960/1126 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, 2025

Academics

Illinois College Northern Illinois
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • General Studies (16%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)

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 47% 46%
% Women 53% 54%
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 70% 93%
% Out-of-State 21% 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 (15,649 students vs. 1,029 students)

Illinois College vs. Northern Illinois Cost Comparison

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

  • Illinois College is 265.6% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($35,796.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 265.6% higher at Illinois College than Northern Illinois University ($35,796.00 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 ($13,884 vs. $16,296)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois College are 14.6% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($9,964 vs. $11,420)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois College than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois College students is 137.3% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($29,785 vs. $12,552)

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 (77.2%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)

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/