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ISU Southern Illinois University UIC Purdue Calumet Western Illinois University DePaul Illinois WMU EIU Bradley Purdue University of Wisconsin-Whitewater| Northern Illinois University | Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Northern Illinois | IPFW | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Fort Wayne, IN | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,649 | 9,069 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | #848 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | ipfw.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | IPFW | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $7,815 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $20,403 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,420 | $10,111 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $11,951 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $7,432 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | IPFW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,961 | 5,853 | ||
| Admitted | 18,348 | 4,721 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | 80.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 25.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.37 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 20/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 980/1210 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Northern Illinois | IPFW | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | IPFW | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 26% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $38,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 51% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $24,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $253 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | IPFW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 48% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 52% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | IPFW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 85% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 11% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | IPFW | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| 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 IPFW based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 9,069 students)
Northern Illinois vs. IPFW Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or IPFW?
- Northern Illinois University is 25.3% more expensive to attend than IPFW for in-state tuition ($9,790.00 vs. $7,815.00)
- Out of state tuition is 108.4% higher at IPFW than Northern Illinois University ($20,403.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne than Northern Illinois ($11,951 vs. $13,884)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne are 12.9% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($10,111 vs. $11,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 68.9% larger than aid received Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne ($12,552 vs. $7,432)
Northern Illinois vs. IPFW Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or IPFW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between IPFW or Northern Illinois .
- The average SAT score at Northern Illinois University (1029) is 34 points higher than at IPFW (995)
- Incoming Northern Illinois students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at IPFW (22)
- Accepted freshman IPFW students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
- IPFW has a higher acceptance rate (80.7%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)
Northern Illinois vs. IPFW Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or IPFW? 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 IPFW and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne (56% vs. 26%)
- Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $9,000 more per year than IPFW graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $38,600)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $641 lower median federal student loan debt than IPFW graduates. ($23,859 vs. $24,500)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than IPFW graduates. ($246 vs. $253)
- More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IPFW students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 51%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/