Northeastern Illinois University vs. OC Comets

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

Northeastern Illinois University OC Comets
Location Chicago, IL Olivet, MI
Setting Large City Distant Rural
Enrollment 5,756 919
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #629
Religious Affiliation - United Church of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website neiu.edu olivetcollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northeastern Illinois University OC Comets
Tuition (In State) $10,091 $31,664
Tuition (Out of State) $20,182 $31,664
Room & Board $10,742 $11,242
Avg Net Price $14,262 $21,394
Avg Grant Aid $15,143 $23,361
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 100%

Admission

Northeastern Illinois University OC Comets
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,603 1,439
Admitted 2,886 1,218
Acceptance Rate 62.7% 84.6%
Enrolled % 17.9% 22.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 -
Typical High School Grades B -
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/21 18/23
SAT Range 810/1010 910/1120
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

Academics

Northeastern Illinois University OC Comets
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (15%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

Northeastern Illinois University OC Comets
Graduation Rate 23% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 $39,300
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $149 $279

Diversity

Northeastern Illinois University OC Comets
% Men 39% 62%
% Women 61% 38%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 33% 75%
% Black 10% 13%
% Hispanic 37% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

Northeastern Illinois University OC Comets
% In-State 97% 85%
% Out-of-State 2% 8%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northeastern Illinois University is larger than than OC Comets based on total student enrollment (5,756 students vs. 919 students)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. OC Comets Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern Illinois University or OC Comets?

  • Olivet College is 213.8% more expensive to attend than Northeastern Illinois University for in-state tuition ($31,664.00 vs. $10,091.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 56.9% higher at OC Comets than Northeastern Illinois University ($31,664.00 vs. $20,182.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern Illinois University than OC Comets ($14,262 vs. $21,394)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern Illinois University are 4.7% lower than costs at Olivet College ($10,742 vs. $11,242)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Olivet College than Northeastern Illinois University (100% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Olivet College students is 54.3% larger than aid received Northeastern Illinois University ($23,361 vs. $15,143)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. OC Comets Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Olivet College (931) is 61 points higher than at Northeastern Illinois University (870)
  • Incoming OC Comets students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (18)
  • OC Comets has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than Northeastern Illinois University (62.7%)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. OC Comets Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northeastern Illinois University or OC Comets? 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 OC Comets and Northeastern Illinois University.

  • The graduation rate at OC Comets is higher than Northeastern Illinois University (46% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from Northeastern Illinois University earn on average $700 more per year than OC Comets graduates after ten years. ($40,000 vs. $39,300)
  • Northeastern Illinois University students graduate with a $12,500 lower median federal student loan debt than OC Comets graduates. ($14,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Northeastern Illinois University graduates are paying $130 less per month on federal student loans than OC Comets graduates. ($149 vs. $279)
  • More Northeastern Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OC Comets students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 53%)

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