Northeastern Illinois University vs. UWO

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

Northeastern Illinois University UWO
Location Chicago, IL Oshkosh, WI
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 5,504 13,761
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #736 #785
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website neiu.edu uwosh.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northeastern Illinois University UWO
Tuition (In State) $10,343 $6,806
Tuition (Out of State) $20,686 $14,719
Room & Board $10,742 $8,940
Avg Net Price $14,669 $12,942
Avg Grant Aid $12,560 $6,088
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 51%

Admission

Northeastern Illinois University UWO
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,481 9,082
Admitted 5,971 7,872
Acceptance Rate 70.4% 86.7%
Enrolled % 9.3% 22.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.24
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/21 19/24
SAT Range 810/1010
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2026

Academics

Northeastern Illinois University UWO
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 21:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Northeastern Illinois University UWO
Graduation Rate 23% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 $44,100
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 72%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,500 $23,748
Median Loan Payment $149 $245

Diversity

Northeastern Illinois University UWO
% Men 9% 2%
% Women 18% 5%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 33% 87%
% Black 10% 2%
% Hispanic 37% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

Northeastern Illinois University UWO
% In-State 98% 88%
% Out-of-State 1% 7%

Campus

Northeastern Illinois University UWO
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

  • University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is larger than than Northeastern Illinois University based on total student enrollment (13,761 students vs. 5,504 students)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. UWO Cost Comparison

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

  • Northeastern Illinois University is 52% more expensive to attend than UWO for in-state tuition ($10,343.00 vs. $6,806.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.5% higher at Northeastern Illinois University than University of Wisconsin Oshkosh ($20,686.00 vs. $14,719.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh than Northeastern Illinois University ($12,942 vs. $14,669)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh are 20.2% lower than costs at Northeastern Illinois University ($8,940 vs. $10,742)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northeastern Illinois University than University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (85% vs. 51%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern Illinois University students is 106.3% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Oshkosh ($12,560 vs. $6,088)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. UWO Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (1030) is 160 points higher than at Northeastern Illinois University (870)
  • Incoming UWO students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (18)
  • Accepted freshman UWO students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (3.1)
  • UWO has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than Northeastern Illinois University (70.4%)

Northeastern Illinois University vs. UWO Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UWO is higher than Northeastern Illinois University (50% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn on average $4,100 more per year than Northeastern Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($44,100 vs. $40,000)
  • Northeastern Illinois University students graduate with a $9,248 lower median federal student loan debt than UWO graduates. ($14,500 vs. $23,748)
  • Northeastern Illinois University graduates are paying $96 less per month on federal student loans than UWO graduates. ($149 vs. $245)
  • More UWO graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 56%)

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