Northern Illinois vs. Albion College

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

Northern Illinois Albion College
Location Dekalb, IL Albion, MI
Setting Small Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 15,649 1,456
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #454 #332
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website niu.edu albion.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northern Illinois Albion College
Tuition (In State) $9,790 $54,410
Tuition (Out of State) $9,790 $54,410
Room & Board $11,420 $12,470
Avg Net Price $13,884 $19,351
Avg Grant Aid $12,552 $47,406
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Northern Illinois Albion College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,961 6,827
Admitted 18,348 4,541
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 66.5%
Enrolled % 13.3% 9.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.48
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 19/25 19/27
SAT Range 940/1170 930/1160
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Northern Illinois Albion College
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Social Sciences (19%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

Outcomes

Northern Illinois Albion College
Graduation Rate 56% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,600 $55,600
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,859 $27,200
Median Loan Payment $246 $281

Diversity

Northern Illinois Albion College
% Men 46% 48%
% Women 54% 52%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 77%
% Black 16% 6%
% Hispanic 15% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

Northern Illinois Albion College
% In-State 93% 67%
% Out-of-State 5% 28%

Campus

Northern Illinois Albion 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 Albion College based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 1,456 students)

Northern Illinois vs. Albion College Cost Comparison

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

  • Albion College is 455.8% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($54,410.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 455.8% higher at Albion College than Northern Illinois University ($54,410.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Albion College ($13,884 vs. $19,351)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Illinois University are 9.2% lower than costs at Albion College ($11,420 vs. $12,470)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Albion College than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Albion College students is 277.7% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($47,406 vs. $12,552)

Northern Illinois vs. Albion College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Albion College (1104) is 75 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
  • Incoming Albion College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
  • Accepted freshman Albion College students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
  • Northern Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (70.7%) than Albion College (66.5%)

Northern Illinois vs. Albion College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northern Illinois or Albion 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 Albion College and Northern Illinois.

  • The graduation rate at Albion College is higher than Northern Illinois University (68% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Albion College earn on average $8,000 more per year than Northern Illinois graduates after ten years. ($55,600 vs. $47,600)
  • Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $3,341 lower median federal student loan debt than Albion College graduates. ($23,859 vs. $27,200)
  • Northern Illinois graduates are paying $35 less per month on federal student loans than Albion College graduates. ($246 vs. $281)
  • More Albion College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 61%)

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