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EIU Northern Illinois UIC North Park University ISU CSU DePaul Metropolitan State University Aurora University Morgan State Concordia University Chicago Northern Michigan University| Northeastern Illinois University | VanderCook College of Music | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Northeastern Illinois University | VCM | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Chicago, IL | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 5,504 | 340 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #736 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | neiu.edu | vandercook.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northeastern Illinois University | VCM | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,343 | $28,640 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,686 | $28,640 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,742 | $7,500 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,669 | $16,601 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,560 | $22,249 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 85% | 100% |
Admission |
Northeastern Illinois University | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,481 | 37 | ||
| Admitted | 5,971 | 36 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.4% | 97.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 9.3% | 47.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.1 | 3.1 | ||
| 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 | 890/1160 | ||
| 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 | Apr 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Northeastern Illinois University | VCM | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 4:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northeastern Illinois University | VCM | ||
| Graduation Rate | 23% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,000 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 56% | 66% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $14,500 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $149 | $279 |
Diversity |
Northeastern Illinois University | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 32% | ||
| % Women | 18% | 39% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 33% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 37% | 21% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 2% |
Students |
Northeastern Illinois University | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 98% | 58% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 1% | 42% | ||
Campus |
Northeastern Illinois University | VCM | ||
| 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 VCM based on total student enrollment (5,504 students vs. 340 students)
Northeastern Illinois University vs. VCM Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northeastern Illinois University or VCM?
- VanderCook College of Music is 176.9% more expensive to attend than Northeastern Illinois University for in-state tuition ($28,640.00 vs. $10,343.00)
- Out of state tuition is 38.5% higher at VCM than Northeastern Illinois University ($28,640.00 vs. $20,686.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern Illinois University than VCM ($14,669 vs. $16,601)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at VanderCook College of Music are 43.2% lower than costs at Northeastern Illinois University ($7,500 vs. $10,742)
- More students receive financial grant aid at VanderCook College of Music than Northeastern Illinois University (100% vs. 85%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by VanderCook College of Music students is 77.1% larger than aid received Northeastern Illinois University ($22,249 vs. $12,560)
Northeastern Illinois University vs. VCM Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northeastern Illinois University or VCM? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCM or Northeastern Illinois University .
- The average SAT score at VanderCook College of Music (1107) is 237 points higher than at Northeastern Illinois University (870)
- Incoming VCM students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (18)
- Accepted freshman Northeastern Illinois University students have at the same average high school GPA (3.1) as students at VCM (3.1)
- VCM has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than Northeastern Illinois University (70.4%)
Northeastern Illinois University vs. VCM Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northeastern Illinois University or VCM? 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 VCM and Northeastern Illinois University.
- The graduation rate at VCM is higher than Northeastern Illinois University (45% vs. 23%)
- Northeastern Illinois University students graduate with a $12,500 lower median federal student loan debt than VCM graduates. ($14,500 vs. $27,000)
- Northeastern Illinois University graduates are paying $130 less per month on federal student loans than VCM graduates. ($149 vs. $279)
- More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 56%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/