National Louis University vs. Northern Illinois

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

National Louis University Northern Illinois
Location Chicago, IL Dekalb, IL
Setting Large City Small Suburban
Enrollment 7,525 15,649
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #454
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nl.edu niu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

National Louis University Northern Illinois
Tuition (In State) $10,755 $9,790
Tuition (Out of State) $10,755 $9,790
Room & Board $13,500 $11,420
Avg Net Price $14,769 $13,884
Avg Grant Aid $9,641 $12,552
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 99%

Admission

National Louis University Northern Illinois
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,181 25,961
Admitted 2,928 18,348
Acceptance Rate 92% 70.7%
Enrolled % 28.2% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 2.8 3.3
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25
SAT Range 940/1170
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

National Louis University Northern Illinois
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • General Studies (32%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Human Services (4%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)

Outcomes

National Louis University Northern Illinois
Graduation Rate 26% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,300 $47,600
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,837 $23,859
Median Loan Payment $205 $246

Diversity

National Louis University Northern Illinois
% Men 22% 46%
% Women 78% 54%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 25% 57%
% Black 35% 16%
% Hispanic 31% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

National Louis University Northern Illinois
% In-State 83% 93%
% Out-of-State 12% 5%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Illinois University is larger than than National Louis University based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 7,525 students)

National Louis University vs. Northern Illinois Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, National Louis University or Northern Illinois?

  • National Louis University is 9.9% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($10,755.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.9% higher at National Louis University than Northern Illinois University ($10,755.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than National Louis University ($13,884 vs. $14,769)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Illinois University are 18.2% lower than costs at National Louis University ($11,420 vs. $13,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than National Louis University (99% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 30.2% larger than aid received National Louis University ($12,552 vs. $9,641)

National Louis University vs. Northern Illinois Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Northern Illinois students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at National Louis University (2.8)
  • National Louis University has a higher acceptance rate (92%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)

National Louis University vs. Northern Illinois Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, National Louis 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 National Louis University.

  • The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than National Louis University (56% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from National Louis University earn on average $1,700 more per year than Northern Illinois graduates after ten years. ($49,300 vs. $47,600)
  • National Louis University students graduate with a $4,022 lower median federal student loan debt than Northern Illinois graduates. ($19,837 vs. $23,859)
  • National Louis University graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than Northern Illinois graduates. ($205 vs. $246)
  • More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former National Louis University students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 44%)

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