Should I go to Northern Illinois University or Indiana University South Bend? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Northern Illinois or IU South Bend is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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ISU Southern Illinois University UIC Western Illinois University Indiana State DePaul Illinois WMU EIU Bradley University of Wisconsin-Whitewater LoyolaNorthern Illinois University | Indiana University South Bend | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Northern Illinois | IU South Bend | ||
Location | Dekalb, IL | South Bend, IN | ||
Setting | Small Suburban | Midsize City | ||
Enrollment | 15,649 | 4,326 | ||
Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
National Ranking | #454 | #917 | ||
Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
Website | niu.edu | iusb.edu | ||
Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | IU South Bend | ||
Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $7,274 | ||
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Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $20,634 | ||
Room & Board | $11,420 | $9,190 | ||
Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $8,785 | ||
Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $7,821 | ||
% Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 95% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | IU South Bend | ||
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Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
Applied | 25,961 | 2,348 | ||
Admitted | 18,348 | 2,040 | ||
Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | 86.9% | ||
Enrolled % | 13.3% | 37.8% | ||
Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.24 | ||
Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
Admissions Standards | Easy | Very Easy | ||
Applicant Competition | Low | |||
ACT Range | 19/25 | 18/22 | ||
SAT Range | 940/1170 | 970/1190 | ||
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 | IU South Bend | ||
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Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 12:1 | ||
Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | IU South Bend | ||
Graduation Rate | 56% | 22% | ||
Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $37,100 | ||
Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 47% | ||
Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $24,530 | ||
Median Loan Payment | $246 | $253 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | IU South Bend | ||
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% Men | 46% | 33% | ||
% Women | 54% | 67% | ||
Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
HBCU | No | No | ||
% White | 57% | 74% | ||
% Black | 16% | 8% | ||
% Hispanic | 15% | 9% | ||
% Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
% Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
% Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
% International | 2% | 3% | ||
% Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | IU South Bend | ||
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% In-State | 93% | 95% | ||
% Out-of-State | 5% | 4% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | IU South Bend | ||
Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
Learn More | Details | Details |
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or IU South Bend?
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or IU South Bend? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between IU South Bend or Northern Illinois .
Which is better, Northern Illinois or IU South Bend? 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 IU South Bend and Northern Illinois.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/