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ISU Southern Illinois University UIC Western Illinois University DePaul Illinois WMU EIU Bradley University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Loyola Northwest| Illinois Wesleyan University | Northern Illinois University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
IWU | Northern Illinois | ||
| Location | Bloomington, IL | Dekalb, IL | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 1,527 | 15,649 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #144 | #454 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | iwu.edu | niu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
IWU | Northern Illinois | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,610 | $9,790 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,610 | $9,790 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,418 | $11,420 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,096 | $13,884 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,614 | $12,552 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
IWU | Northern Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,408 | 25,961 | ||
| Admitted | 1,861 | 18,348 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 42.2% | 70.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.5% | 13.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.86 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 25/30 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1120/1330 | 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 |
IWU | Northern Illinois | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
IWU | Northern Illinois | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $60,500 | $47,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 61% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $23,859 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $246 |
Diversity |
IWU | Northern Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 16% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 15% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 9% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
IWU | Northern Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 93% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 14% | 5% | ||
Campus |
IWU | 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 IWU based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 1,527 students)
IWU vs. Northern Illinois Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, IWU or Northern Illinois?
- Illinois Wesleyan University is 447.6% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($53,610.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 447.6% higher at IWU than Northern Illinois University ($53,610.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than IWU ($13,884 vs. $30,096)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Illinois University are 8.7% lower than costs at Illinois Wesleyan University ($11,420 vs. $12,418)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 191.7% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($36,614 vs. $12,552)
IWU vs. Northern Illinois Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, IWU or Northern Illinois? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Northern Illinois or IWU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois Wesleyan University (1249) is 220 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
- Incoming IWU students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
- Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
- Northern Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (70.7%) than IWU (42.2%)
IWU vs. Northern Illinois Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, IWU 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 IWU.
- The graduation rate at IWU is higher than Northern Illinois University (82% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn on average $12,900 more per year than Northern Illinois graduates after ten years. ($60,500 vs. $47,600)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $3,141 lower median federal student loan debt than IWU graduates. ($23,859 vs. $27,000)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than IWU graduates. ($246 vs. $279)
- More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 61%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/