Lewis University vs. Northern Illinois

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

Lewis University Northern Illinois
Location Romeoville, IL Dekalb, IL
Setting Large Suburban Small Suburban
Enrollment 6,513 15,649
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #345 #454
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lewisu.edu niu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lewis University Northern Illinois
Tuition (In State) $36,320 $9,790
Tuition (Out of State) $36,320 $9,790
Room & Board $11,956 $11,420
Avg Net Price $19,184 $13,884
Avg Grant Aid $26,423 $12,552
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Lewis University Northern Illinois
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,746 25,961
Admitted 3,515 18,348
Acceptance Rate 74.1% 70.7%
Enrolled % 17.2% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 21/29 19/25
SAT Range 1010/1200 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

Lewis University Northern Illinois
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Transportation and Materials Moving (9%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)

Outcomes

Lewis University Northern Illinois
Graduation Rate 63% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,500 $47,600
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,625 $23,859
Median Loan Payment $254 $246

Diversity

Lewis University Northern Illinois
% Men 50% 46%
% Women 50% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 64% 57%
% Black 6% 16%
% Hispanic 19% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Lewis University Northern Illinois
% In-State 83% 93%
% Out-of-State 13% 5%

Campus

Lewis University 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 Lewis University based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 6,513 students)

Lewis University vs. Northern Illinois Cost Comparison

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

  • Lewis University is 271% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($36,320.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 271% higher at Lewis University than Northern Illinois University ($36,320.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Lewis University ($13,884 vs. $19,184)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Illinois University are 4.7% lower than costs at Lewis University ($11,420 vs. $11,956)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lewis University than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lewis University students is 110.5% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($26,423 vs. $12,552)

Lewis University vs. Northern Illinois Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Lewis University (1051) is 22 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
  • Incoming Lewis University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
  • Accepted freshman Lewis University students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
  • Lewis University has a higher acceptance rate (74.1%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)

Lewis University vs. Northern Illinois Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lewis University 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 Lewis University.

  • The graduation rate at Lewis University is higher than Northern Illinois University (63% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Lewis University earn on average $3,900 more per year than Northern Illinois graduates after ten years. ($51,500 vs. $47,600)
  • Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $766 lower median federal student loan debt than Lewis University graduates. ($23,859 vs. $24,625)
  • Northern Illinois graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than Lewis University graduates. ($246 vs. $254)
  • More Lewis University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 61%)

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