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ISU Southern Illinois University UIC Western Illinois University DePaul Illinois WMU EIU Bradley University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Loyola Northwest| Northern Illinois University | American InterContinental University Online | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Northern Illinois | AIU Online | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Hoffman Estates, IL | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 15,649 | 14,333 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | For-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | aiuniv.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | AIU Online | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $11,762 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $11,762 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,420 | $6,917 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $13,808 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $6,284 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 78% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | AIU Online | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,961 | - | ||
| Admitted | 18,348 | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | |||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | |||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Northern Illinois | AIU Online | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 40:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | AIU Online | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $47,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 23% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $32,981 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $341 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | AIU Online | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 39% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 61% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 34% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 46% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 10% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | AIU Online | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 2% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 98% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | AIU Online | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Illinois University is larger than than AIU Online based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 14,333 students)
Northern Illinois vs. AIU Online Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or AIU Online?
- American InterContinental University Online is 20.1% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($11,762.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 20.1% higher at AIU Online than Northern Illinois University ($11,762.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American InterContinental University Online than Northern Illinois ($13,808 vs. $13,884)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American InterContinental University Online are 65.1% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($6,917 vs. $11,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than American InterContinental University Online (99% vs. 78%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 99.7% larger than aid received American InterContinental University Online ($12,552 vs. $6,284)
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or AIU Online? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AIU Online or Northern Illinois .
Northern Illinois vs. AIU Online Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or AIU Online? 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 AIU Online and Northern Illinois.
- Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $200 more per year than AIU Online graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $47,400)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $9,122 lower median federal student loan debt than AIU Online graduates. ($23,859 vs. $32,981)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $95 less per month on federal student loans than AIU Online graduates. ($246 vs. $341)
- More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AIU Online students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 23%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/