Milikin vs. Northern Illinois

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

Milikin Northern Illinois
Location Decatur, IL Dekalb, IL
Setting Small City Small Suburban
Enrollment 1,807 15,649
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #436 #454
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website millikin.edu niu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Milikin Northern Illinois
Tuition (In State) $26,000 $9,790
Tuition (Out of State) $40,740 $9,790
Room & Board $12,836 $11,420
Avg Net Price $10,492 $13,884
Avg Grant Aid $30,528 $12,552
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Milikin Northern Illinois
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,902 25,961
Admitted 2,188 18,348
Acceptance Rate 75.4% 70.7%
Enrolled % 16.5% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/27 19/25
SAT Range 930/1200 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

Milikin Northern Illinois
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)

Outcomes

Milikin Northern Illinois
Graduation Rate 65% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,100 $47,600
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,859
Median Loan Payment $279 $246

Diversity

Milikin Northern Illinois
% Men 44% 46%
% Women 56% 54%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 73% 57%
% Black 14% 16%
% Hispanic 6% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Milikin Northern Illinois
% In-State 75% 93%
% Out-of-State 23% 5%

Campus

Milikin Northern Illinois
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Illinois University is larger than than Milikin based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 1,807 students)

Milikin vs. Northern Illinois Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Milikin or Northern Illinois?

  • Millikin University is 316.1% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($40,740.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 316.1% higher at Milikin than Northern Illinois University ($40,740.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Millikin University than Northern Illinois ($10,492 vs. $13,884)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Illinois University are 12.4% lower than costs at Millikin University ($11,420 vs. $12,836)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Millikin University than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Millikin University students is 143.2% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($30,528 vs. $12,552)

Milikin vs. Northern Illinois Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Millikin University (1069) is 40 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
  • Incoming Milikin students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
  • Accepted freshman Milikin students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
  • Milikin has a higher acceptance rate (75.4%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)

Milikin vs. Northern Illinois Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Milikin 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 Milikin.

  • The graduation rate at Milikin is higher than Northern Illinois University (65% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $500 more per year than Milikin graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $47,100)
  • Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $3,141 lower median federal student loan debt than Milikin graduates. ($23,859 vs. $27,000)
  • Northern Illinois graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Milikin graduates. ($246 vs. $279)
  • More Milikin 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/