Lewis University vs. Northeastern Illinois University

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

Lewis University Northeastern Illinois University
Location Romeoville, IL Chicago, IL
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 6,513 5,756
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #345 #629
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lewisu.edu neiu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lewis University Northeastern Illinois University
Tuition (In State) $36,320 $10,091
Tuition (Out of State) $36,320 $20,182
Room & Board $11,956 $10,742
Avg Net Price $19,184 $14,262
Avg Grant Aid $26,423 $15,143
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 85%

Admission

Lewis University Northeastern Illinois University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,746 4,603
Admitted 3,515 2,886
Acceptance Rate 74.1% 62.7%
Enrolled % 17.2% 17.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.1
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Average Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 21/29 15/21
SAT Range 1010/1200 810/1010
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 Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Lewis University Northeastern Illinois University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Transportation and Materials Moving (9%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

Lewis University Northeastern Illinois University
Graduation Rate 63% 23%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,500 $40,000
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,625 $14,500
Median Loan Payment $254 $149

Diversity

Lewis University Northeastern Illinois University
% Men 50% 39%
% Women 50% 61%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 64% 33%
% Black 6% 10%
% Hispanic 19% 37%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

Lewis University Northeastern Illinois University
% In-State 83% 97%
% Out-of-State 13% 2%

Campus

Lewis University Northeastern Illinois University
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Lewis University is larger than than Northeastern Illinois University based on total student enrollment (6,513 students vs. 5,756 students)

Lewis University vs. Northeastern Illinois University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lewis University or Northeastern Illinois University?

  • Lewis University is 259.9% more expensive to attend than Northeastern Illinois University for in-state tuition ($36,320.00 vs. $10,091.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 80% higher at Lewis University than Northeastern Illinois University ($36,320.00 vs. $20,182.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern Illinois University than Lewis University ($14,262 vs. $19,184)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern Illinois University are 11.3% lower than costs at Lewis University ($10,742 vs. $11,956)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lewis University than Northeastern Illinois University (100% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lewis University students is 74.5% larger than aid received Northeastern Illinois University ($26,423 vs. $15,143)

Lewis University vs. Northeastern Illinois University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Lewis University (1051) is 181 points higher than at Northeastern Illinois University (870)
  • Incoming Lewis University students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (18)
  • Accepted freshman Lewis University students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (3.1)
  • Lewis University has a higher acceptance rate (74.1%) than Northeastern Illinois University (62.7%)

Lewis University vs. Northeastern Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lewis University or Northeastern Illinois University? 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 Northeastern Illinois University and Lewis University.

  • The graduation rate at Lewis University is higher than Northeastern Illinois University (63% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from Lewis University earn on average $11,500 more per year than Northeastern Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($51,500 vs. $40,000)
  • Northeastern Illinois University students graduate with a $10,125 lower median federal student loan debt than Lewis University graduates. ($14,500 vs. $24,625)
  • Northeastern Illinois University graduates are paying $105 less per month on federal student loans than Lewis University graduates. ($149 vs. $254)
  • More Lewis University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 56%)

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