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Northern Illinois Illinois UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University WMU Bradley Southern Illinois University IIT ISU| Illinois State University | Northwest Missouri State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | Northwest | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Maryville, MO | ||
| Setting | Small City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 20,989 | 9,664 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #501 | #907 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | nwmissouri.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | Northwest | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,066 | $6,442 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,131 | $12,884 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,584 | $11,788 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,871 | $15,497 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,590 | $8,700 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 96% |
Admission |
ISU | Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 20,884 | 6,834 | ||
| Admitted | 18,589 | 5,871 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89% | 85.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.3% | 17.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.45 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/27 | 18/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1230 | 970/1200 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Apr 1, 2026 |
Academics |
ISU | Northwest | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | Northwest | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 49% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $41,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $258 |
Diversity |
ISU | Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 14% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 29% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
ISU | Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 67% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 29% | ||
Campus |
ISU | Northwest | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than Northwest based on total student enrollment (20,989 students vs. 9,664 students)
ISU vs. Northwest Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or Northwest?
- Illinois State University is 87.3% more expensive to attend than Northwest for in-state tuition ($12,066.00 vs. $6,442.00)
- Out of state tuition is 87.3% higher at ISU than Northwest Missouri State University ($24,131.00 vs. $12,884.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwest Missouri State University than ISU ($15,497 vs. $20,871)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 1.8% lower than costs at Northwest Missouri State University ($11,584 vs. $11,788)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University as Northwest Missouri State University (96% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 33.2% larger than aid received Northwest Missouri State University ($11,590 vs. $8,700)
ISU vs. Northwest Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or Northwest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Northwest or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 43 points higher than at Northwest (1047)
- Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Northwest (23)
- Accepted freshman Northwest students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at ISU (3.41)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than Northwest (85.9%)
ISU vs. Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or Northwest? 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 Northwest and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Northwest Missouri State University (71% vs. 49%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $7,800 more per year than Northwest graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $41,200)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Northwest graduates. ($22,000 vs. $25,000)
- ISU graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Northwest graduates. ($227 vs. $258)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwest students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/