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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 | Aquinas College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northern Illinois | AQ | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Grand Rapids, MI | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,649 | 1,265 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | #819 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | aquinas.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | AQ | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $36,480 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $36,480 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,420 | $10,572 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $18,605 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $30,049 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | AQ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,961 | 2,116 | ||
| Admitted | 18,348 | 1,921 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | 90.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 16% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.52 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | |||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 1000/1180 | ||
| 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 | AQ | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | AQ | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 52% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $40,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $268 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | AQ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 43% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 57% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | AQ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 84% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 13% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | AQ | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Illinois University is larger than than AQ based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 1,265 students)
Northern Illinois vs. AQ Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or AQ?
- Aquinas College is 272.6% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($36,480.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 272.6% higher at AQ than Northern Illinois University ($36,480.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than AQ ($13,884 vs. $18,605)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 8% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($10,572 vs. $11,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Aquinas College than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 139.4% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($30,049 vs. $12,552)
Northern Illinois vs. AQ Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or AQ? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AQ or Northern Illinois .
- The average SAT score at Aquinas College (1090) is 61 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
- Incoming AQ students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
- Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
- AQ has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)
Northern Illinois vs. AQ Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or AQ? 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 AQ and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than Aquinas College (56% vs. 52%)
- Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $7,600 more per year than AQ graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $40,000)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $2,141 lower median federal student loan debt than AQ graduates. ($23,859 vs. $26,000)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than AQ graduates. ($246 vs. $268)
- More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/