Northeastern Illinois University vs. Fairmont State

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

Northeastern Illinois University Fairmont State
Location Chicago, IL Fairmont, WV
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 5,756 3,498
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #629 #979
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website neiu.edu fairmontstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northeastern Illinois University Fairmont State
Tuition (In State) $10,091 $6,022
Tuition (Out of State) $20,182 $15,638
Room & Board $10,742 $10,022
Avg Net Price $14,262 $10,794
Avg Grant Aid $15,143 $6,547
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 94%

Admission

Northeastern Illinois University Fairmont State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,603 1,926
Admitted 2,886 1,897
Acceptance Rate 62.7% 98.5%
Enrolled % 17.9% 37%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.36
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/21 18/23
SAT Range 810/1010 820/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Northeastern Illinois University Fairmont State
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)

Outcomes

Northeastern Illinois University Fairmont State
Graduation Rate 23% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 $37,600
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,500 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $149 $227

Diversity

Northeastern Illinois University Fairmont State
% Men 39% 41%
% Women 61% 59%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 33% 86%
% Black 10% 5%
% Hispanic 37% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Northeastern Illinois University Fairmont State
% In-State 97% 88%
% Out-of-State 2% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northeastern Illinois University is larger than than Fairmont State based on total student enrollment (5,756 students vs. 3,498 students)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern Illinois University or Fairmont State ?

  • Northeastern Illinois University is 67.6% more expensive to attend than Fairmont State for in-state tuition ($10,091.00 vs. $6,022.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 29.1% higher at Northeastern Illinois University than Fairmont State University ($20,182.00 vs. $15,638.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fairmont State University than Northeastern Illinois University ($10,794 vs. $14,262)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairmont State University are 7.2% lower than costs at Northeastern Illinois University ($10,022 vs. $10,742)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairmont State University than Northeastern Illinois University (94% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern Illinois University students is 131.3% larger than aid received Fairmont State University ($15,143 vs. $6,547)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. Fairmont State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Fairmont State University (962) is 92 points higher than at Northeastern Illinois University (870)
  • Incoming Fairmont State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (18)
  • Accepted freshman Fairmont State students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (3.1)
  • Fairmont State has a higher acceptance rate (98.5%) than Northeastern Illinois University (62.7%)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northeastern Illinois University or Fairmont State ? 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 Fairmont State and Northeastern Illinois University.

  • The graduation rate at Fairmont State is higher than Northeastern Illinois University (33% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from Northeastern Illinois University earn on average $2,400 more per year than Fairmont State graduates after ten years. ($40,000 vs. $37,600)
  • Northeastern Illinois University students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairmont State graduates. ($14,500 vs. $22,000)
  • Northeastern Illinois University graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than Fairmont State graduates. ($149 vs. $227)
  • More Northeastern Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairmont State students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 43%)

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