Northeastern Illinois University vs. Fontbonne University

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

Northeastern Illinois University Fontbonne University
Location Chicago, IL Saint Louis, MO
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,504 874
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #736
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website neiu.edu fontbonne.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northeastern Illinois University Fontbonne University
Tuition (In State) $10,343 $28,276
Tuition (Out of State) $20,686 $28,276
Room & Board $10,742 $11,232
Avg Net Price $14,669 $19,519
Avg Grant Aid $12,560 $24,175
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 99%

Admission

Northeastern Illinois University Fontbonne University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,481 1,067
Admitted 5,971 1,014
Acceptance Rate 70.4% 95%
Enrolled % 9.3% 15.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.3
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/21 17/23
SAT Range 810/1010
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2026

Academics

Northeastern Illinois University Fontbonne University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (48%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (5%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

Northeastern Illinois University Fontbonne University
Graduation Rate 23% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,500 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $149 $268

Diversity

Northeastern Illinois University Fontbonne University
% Men 9% 5%
% Women 18% 21%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 33% 71%
% Black 10% 15%
% Hispanic 37% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 4% 7%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Northeastern Illinois University Fontbonne University
% In-State 98% 73%
% Out-of-State 1% 26%

Campus

Northeastern Illinois University Fontbonne University
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
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 Fontbonne University based on total student enrollment (5,504 students vs. 874 students)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. Fontbonne University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern Illinois University or Fontbonne University?

  • Fontbonne University is 173.4% more expensive to attend than Northeastern Illinois University for in-state tuition ($28,276.00 vs. $10,343.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.7% higher at Fontbonne University than Northeastern Illinois University ($28,276.00 vs. $20,686.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern Illinois University than Fontbonne University ($14,669 vs. $19,519)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern Illinois University are 4.6% lower than costs at Fontbonne University ($10,742 vs. $11,232)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fontbonne University than Northeastern Illinois University (99% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fontbonne University students is 92.5% larger than aid received Northeastern Illinois University ($24,175 vs. $12,560)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. Fontbonne University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Fontbonne University (1050) is 180 points higher than at Northeastern Illinois University (870)
  • Incoming Fontbonne University students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (18)
  • Accepted freshman Fontbonne University students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (3.1)
  • Fontbonne University has a higher acceptance rate (95%) than Northeastern Illinois University (70.4%)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. Fontbonne University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northeastern Illinois University or Fontbonne University? 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 Fontbonne University and Northeastern Illinois University.

  • The graduation rate at Fontbonne University is higher than Northeastern Illinois University (43% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from Fontbonne University earn on average $6,400 more per year than Northeastern Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $40,000)
  • Northeastern Illinois University students graduate with a $11,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Fontbonne University graduates. ($14,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Northeastern Illinois University graduates are paying $119 less per month on federal student loans than Fontbonne University graduates. ($149 vs. $268)
  • More Fontbonne University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 56%)

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