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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 | Central College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Northern Illinois | Central College | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Pella, IA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 15,649 | 1,169 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | #519 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Reformed Church in America | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | central.edu | ||
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Costs |
Northern Illinois | Central College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $19,800 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $19,800 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,420 | $10,860 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $23,303 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $10,999 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | Central College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,961 | 1,970 | ||
| Admitted | 18,348 | 1,561 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | 79.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 22.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.52 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 1040/1218 | ||
| 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 | Central College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | Central College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $48,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 78% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $279 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | Central College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 52% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 48% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 87% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 1% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | Central College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | Central 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 Central College based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 1,169 students)
Northern Illinois vs. Central College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or Central College?
- Central College is 102.2% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($19,800.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 102.2% higher at Central College than Northern Illinois University ($19,800.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Central College ($13,884 vs. $23,303)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central College are 5.2% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($10,860 vs. $11,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Central College than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 14.1% larger than aid received Central College ($12,552 vs. $10,999)
Northern Illinois vs. Central College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or Central College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Central College or Northern Illinois .
- The average SAT score at Central College (1068) is 39 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
- Incoming Central College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
- Accepted freshman Central College students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
- Central College has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)
Northern Illinois vs. Central College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or Central 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 Central College and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Central College is higher than Northern Illinois University (63% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Central College earn on average $400 more per year than Northern Illinois graduates after ten years. ($48,000 vs. $47,600)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $3,141 lower median federal student loan debt than Central College graduates. ($23,859 vs. $27,000)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Central College graduates. ($246 vs. $279)
- More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 61%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/