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ISU Southern Illinois University UIC Western Illinois University DePaul Illinois WMU EIU Bradley University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Loyola Northwest| Northern Illinois University | Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northern Illinois | MIAD | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Milwaukee, WI | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,504 | 885 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #488 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | miad.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | MIAD | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $40,480 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $40,480 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,800 | $10,430 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,533 | $28,024 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $13,565 | $24,605 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 100% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | MIAD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 24,177 | 1,059 | ||
| Admitted | 17,033 | 665 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.5% | 62.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.9% | 30.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.08 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 20/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 940/1140 | ||
| 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 | Aug 31, 2026 |
Academics |
Northern Illinois | MIAD | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | MIAD | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 57% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $36,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 59% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $279 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | MIAD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 11% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 16% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | MIAD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 56% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 44% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | MIAD | ||
| 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
- Northern Illinois University is larger than than MIAD based on total student enrollment (15,504 students vs. 885 students)
Northern Illinois vs. MIAD Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or MIAD?
- Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is 313.5% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($40,480.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 313.5% higher at MIAD than Northern Illinois University ($40,480.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than MIAD ($13,533 vs. $28,024)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design are 22.7% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($10,430 vs. $12,800)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students is 81.4% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($24,605 vs. $13,565)
Northern Illinois vs. MIAD Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or MIAD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MIAD or Northern Illinois .
- Accepted freshman Northern Illinois students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at MIAD (3.08)
- Northern Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (70.5%) than MIAD (62.8%)
Northern Illinois vs. MIAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or MIAD? 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 MIAD and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at MIAD is higher than Northern Illinois University (57% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $11,600 more per year than MIAD graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $36,000)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $3,141 lower median federal student loan debt than MIAD graduates. ($23,859 vs. $27,000)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than MIAD graduates. ($246 vs. $279)
- More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MIAD students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/