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ISU UNCG ASU WCU Southern Illinois University UNC Charlotte Coastal Carolina UNCW NC State UIC Western Illinois University WVU| Northern Illinois University | East Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northern Illinois | ECU | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Greenville, NC | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,649 | 27,151 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | #673 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | ecu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | ECU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $4,452 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $20,729 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,420 | $10,816 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $14,410 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $9,020 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 59% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | ECU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,961 | 21,383 | ||
| Admitted | 18,348 | 19,744 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | 92.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 19.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.33 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 19/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 1020/1170 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Northern Illinois | ECU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | ECU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 59% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $43,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $24,788 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $256 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | ECU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 16% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | ECU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 15% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | ECU | ||
| 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
- East Carolina University is larger than than Northern Illinois based on total student enrollment (27,151 students vs. 15,649 students)
Northern Illinois vs. ECU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or ECU?
- Northern Illinois University is 119.9% more expensive to attend than ECU for in-state tuition ($9,790.00 vs. $4,452.00)
- Out of state tuition is 111.7% higher at ECU than Northern Illinois University ($20,729.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than ECU ($13,884 vs. $14,410)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 5.6% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($10,816 vs. $11,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than East Carolina University (99% vs. 59%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 39.2% larger than aid received East Carolina University ($12,552 vs. $9,020)
Northern Illinois vs. ECU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or ECU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ECU or Northern Illinois .
- The average SAT score at East Carolina University (1053) is 24 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
- Incoming ECU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
- Accepted freshman ECU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
- ECU has a higher acceptance rate (92.3%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)
Northern Illinois vs. ECU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or ECU? 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 ECU and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at ECU is higher than Northern Illinois University (59% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $3,700 more per year than ECU graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $43,900)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $929 lower median federal student loan debt than ECU graduates. ($23,859 vs. $24,788)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than ECU graduates. ($246 vs. $256)
- More ECU 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/