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ISU Southern Illinois University UIC Western Illinois University Purdue IU DePaul Butler Illinois WMU EIU Bradley| Northern Illinois University | Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Northern Illinois | IUPUI | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Indianapolis, IN | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,504 | 25,497 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #488 | #458 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | iupui.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | IUPUI | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $9,241 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $32,509 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,800 | $13,010 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,533 | $11,592 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $13,565 | $11,473 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 82% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | IUPUI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 24,177 | 15,715 | ||
| Admitted | 17,033 | 12,791 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.5% | 81.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.9% | 25.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.52 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 1040/1230 | ||
| 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, 2026 | May 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Northern Illinois | IUPUI | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | IUPUI | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 33% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $48,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $23,090 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $238 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | IUPUI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 11% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 16% | 21% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | IUPUI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 91% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 7% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | IUPUI | ||
| 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
- Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is larger than than Northern Illinois based on total student enrollment (25,497 students vs. 15,504 students)
Northern Illinois vs. IUPUI Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or IUPUI?
- Northern Illinois University is 5.9% more expensive to attend than IUPUI for in-state tuition ($9,790.00 vs. $9,241.00)
- Out of state tuition is 232.1% higher at IUPUI than Northern Illinois University ($32,509.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis than Northern Illinois ($11,592 vs. $13,533)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Illinois University are 1.6% lower than costs at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ($12,800 vs. $13,010)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (98% vs. 82%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 18.2% larger than aid received Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ($13,565 vs. $11,473)
Northern Illinois vs. IUPUI Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or IUPUI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between IUPUI or Northern Illinois .
- The average SAT score at Northern Illinois University (1029) is 15 points higher than at IUPUI (1014)
- Incoming Northern Illinois students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at IUPUI (22)
- Accepted freshman IUPUI students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
- IUPUI has a higher acceptance rate (81.4%) than Northern Illinois (70.5%)
Northern Illinois vs. IUPUI Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or IUPUI? 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 IUPUI and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (56% vs. 33%)
- Graduates from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn on average $1,000 more per year than Northern Illinois graduates after ten years. ($48,600 vs. $47,600)
- Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis students graduate with a $769 lower median federal student loan debt than Northern Illinois graduates. ($23,090 vs. $23,859)
- IUPUI graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than Northern Illinois graduates. ($238 vs. $246)
- More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IUPUI students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/