Northeastern Illinois University vs. NSU

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

Northeastern Illinois University NSU
Location Chicago, IL Norfolk, VA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 5,756 5,783
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #629 #1008
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website neiu.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northeastern Illinois University NSU
Tuition (In State) $10,091 $5,752
Tuition (Out of State) $20,182 $16,920
Room & Board $10,742 $10,844
Avg Net Price $14,262 $14,652
Avg Grant Aid $15,143 $12,164
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 91%

Admission

Northeastern Illinois University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,603 8,884
Admitted 2,886 7,951
Acceptance Rate 62.7% 89.5%
Enrolled % 17.9% 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 2.9
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/21 15/20
SAT Range 810/1010 840/1040
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025 May 31, 2025

Academics

Northeastern Illinois University NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Northeastern Illinois University NSU
Graduation Rate 23% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,500 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $149 $320

Diversity

Northeastern Illinois University NSU
% Men 39% 33%
% Women 61% 67%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 33% 5%
% Black 10% 84%
% Hispanic 37% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

Northeastern Illinois University NSU
% In-State 97% 65%
% Out-of-State 2% 31%

Campus

Northeastern Illinois University NSU
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

  • Norfolk State University is larger than than Northeastern Illinois University based on total student enrollment (5,783 students vs. 5,756 students)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Northeastern Illinois University is 75.4% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($10,091.00 vs. $5,752.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.3% higher at Northeastern Illinois University than Norfolk State University ($20,182.00 vs. $16,920.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern Illinois University than NSU ($14,262 vs. $14,652)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern Illinois University are 0.9% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($10,742 vs. $10,844)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Norfolk State University than Northeastern Illinois University (91% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern Illinois University students is 24.5% larger than aid received Norfolk State University ($15,143 vs. $12,164)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northeastern Illinois University (870) is 62 points higher than at NSU (808)
  • Incoming Northeastern Illinois University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (18) than students at NSU (17)
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern Illinois University students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.1) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than Northeastern Illinois University (62.7%)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Northeastern Illinois University (33% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from Northeastern Illinois University earn on average $3,300 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($40,000 vs. $36,700)
  • Northeastern Illinois University students graduate with a $16,500 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($14,500 vs. $31,000)
  • Northeastern Illinois University graduates are paying $171 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($149 vs. $320)
  • More Northeastern Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 27%)

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