Northeastern Illinois University vs. PennWest Clarion

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

Northeastern Illinois University PennWest Clarion
Location Chicago, IL Clarion, PA
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 5,756 3,922
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #629
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website neiu.edu clarion.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northeastern Illinois University PennWest Clarion
Tuition (In State) $10,091 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $20,182 $11,574
Room & Board $10,742 $12,930
Avg Net Price $14,262 -
Avg Grant Aid $15,143 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 0%

Admission

Northeastern Illinois University PennWest Clarion
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,603 -
Admitted 2,886 -
Acceptance Rate 62.7%
Enrolled % 17.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/21
SAT Range 810/1010
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Northeastern Illinois University PennWest Clarion
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Northeastern Illinois University PennWest Clarion
Graduation Rate 23% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 $39,200
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,500 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $149 $268

Diversity

Northeastern Illinois University PennWest Clarion
% Men 39% 28%
% Women 61% 72%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 33% 83%
% Black 10% 8%
% Hispanic 37% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Northeastern Illinois University PennWest Clarion
% In-State 97% 94%
% Out-of-State 2% 5%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northeastern Illinois University is larger than than PennWest Clarion based on total student enrollment (5,756 students vs. 3,922 students)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. PennWest Clarion Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern Illinois University or PennWest Clarion?

  • Northeastern Illinois University is 30.8% more expensive to attend than PennWest Clarion for in-state tuition ($10,091.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 74.4% higher at Northeastern Illinois University than PennWest Clarion ($20,182.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern Illinois University are 20.4% lower than costs at PennWest Clarion ($10,742 vs. $12,930)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northeastern Illinois University than PennWest Clarion (85% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern Illinois University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest Clarion ($15,143 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at PennWest Clarion (934) is 64 points higher than at Northeastern Illinois University (870)
  • Incoming PennWest Clarion students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (18)
  • Accepted freshman PennWest Clarion students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (3.1)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. PennWest Clarion Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northeastern Illinois University or PennWest Clarion? 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 PennWest Clarion and Northeastern Illinois University.

  • The graduation rate at PennWest Clarion is higher than Northeastern Illinois University (49% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from Northeastern Illinois University earn on average $800 more per year than PennWest Clarion graduates after ten years. ($40,000 vs. $39,200)
  • Northeastern Illinois University students graduate with a $11,500 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest Clarion graduates. ($14,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Northeastern Illinois University graduates are paying $119 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest Clarion graduates. ($149 vs. $268)
  • More PennWest Clarion graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 56%)

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