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ISU Michigan State Southern Illinois University UIC WMU CMU Oakland Western Illinois University Ferris State University Saginaw Valley State University WSU DePaul| Northern Illinois University | Grand Valley State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Northern Illinois | GVSU | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Allendale, MI | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 15,649 | 21,648 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | #583 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | gvsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | GVSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $13,952 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $19,856 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,420 | $10,140 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $17,105 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $8,811 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 93% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | GVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,961 | 17,123 | ||
| Admitted | 18,348 | 15,474 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | 90.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 25% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.65 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 960/1210 | ||
| 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 | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Northern Illinois | GVSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | GVSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $44,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 62% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $258 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | GVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 38% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 62% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | GVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 91% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 8% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | GVSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Grand Valley State University is larger than than Northern Illinois based on total student enrollment (21,648 students vs. 15,649 students)
Northern Illinois vs. GVSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or GVSU?
- Grand Valley State University is 42.5% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($13,952.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 102.8% higher at GVSU than Northern Illinois University ($19,856.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than GVSU ($13,884 vs. $17,105)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 12.6% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($10,140 vs. $11,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than Grand Valley State University (99% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 42.5% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($12,552 vs. $8,811)
Northern Illinois vs. GVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or GVSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between GVSU or Northern Illinois .
- The average SAT score at Grand Valley State University (1090) is 61 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
- Incoming GVSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
- Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
- GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)
Northern Illinois vs. GVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or GVSU? 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 GVSU and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at GVSU is higher than Northern Illinois University (63% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $3,000 more per year than GVSU graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $44,600)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $1,141 lower median federal student loan debt than GVSU graduates. ($23,859 vs. $25,000)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than GVSU graduates. ($246 vs. $258)
- More GVSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 61%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/