Northern Illinois vs. Adrian College

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

Northern Illinois Adrian College
Location Dekalb, IL Adrian, MI
Setting Small Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 15,504 1,760
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #488 #800
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website niu.edu adrian.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northern Illinois Adrian College
Tuition (In State) $9,790 $39,280
Tuition (Out of State) $9,790 $39,280
Room & Board $12,800 $13,424
Avg Net Price $13,533 $22,053
Avg Grant Aid $13,565 $32,923
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 99%

Admission

Northern Illinois Adrian College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 24,177 3,054
Admitted 17,033 2,088
Acceptance Rate 70.5% 68.4%
Enrolled % 12.9% 23.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.2
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 19/25 18/26
SAT Range 940/1170 880/1120
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Northern Illinois Adrian College
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

Northern Illinois Adrian College
Graduation Rate 56% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,600 $39,900
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,859 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $246 $279

Diversity

Northern Illinois Adrian College
% Men 11% 2%
% Women 16% 2%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 72%
% Black 16% 9%
% Hispanic 15% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 9%

Students

Northern Illinois Adrian College
% In-State 93% 67%
% Out-of-State 5% 27%

Campus

Northern Illinois Adrian College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Illinois University is larger than than Adrian College based on total student enrollment (15,504 students vs. 1,760 students)

Northern Illinois vs. Adrian College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or Adrian College?

  • Adrian College is 301.2% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($39,280.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 301.2% higher at Adrian College than Northern Illinois University ($39,280.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Adrian College ($13,533 vs. $22,053)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Illinois University are 4.9% lower than costs at Adrian College ($12,800 vs. $13,424)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Adrian College than Northern Illinois University (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Adrian College students is 142.7% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($32,923 vs. $13,565)

Northern Illinois vs. Adrian College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Illinois University (1029) is 21 points higher than at Adrian College (1008)
  • Incoming Northern Illinois students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Adrian College (22)
  • Accepted freshman Northern Illinois students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Adrian College (3.2)
  • Northern Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (70.5%) than Adrian College (68.4%)

Northern Illinois vs. Adrian College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northern Illinois or Adrian College? 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 Adrian College and Northern Illinois.

  • The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than Adrian College (56% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $7,700 more per year than Adrian College graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $39,900)
  • Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $3,141 lower median federal student loan debt than Adrian College graduates. ($23,859 vs. $27,000)
  • Northern Illinois graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Adrian College graduates. ($246 vs. $279)
  • More Adrian College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 61%)

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