Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
ISU Southern Illinois University UIC Western Illinois University DePaul Illinois WMU EIU Bradley University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Loyola University of Missouri-Kansas City| Northern Illinois University | Northwest Missouri State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northern Illinois | Northwest | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Maryville, MO | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 15,649 | 8,505 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | #914 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | nwmissouri.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | Northwest | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $6,015 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $12,082 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,420 | $10,428 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $14,197 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $8,387 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 95% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,961 | 6,877 | ||
| Admitted | 18,348 | 5,884 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | 85.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 18.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.45 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 938/1158 | ||
| 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 | Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | Northwest | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 49% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $41,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $258 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 38% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 62% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 65% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 33% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | Northwest | ||
| 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 Northwest based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 8,505 students)
Northern Illinois vs. Northwest Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or Northwest?
- Northern Illinois University is 62.8% more expensive to attend than Northwest for in-state tuition ($9,790.00 vs. $6,015.00)
- Out of state tuition is 23.4% higher at Northwest than Northern Illinois University ($12,082.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Northwest ($13,884 vs. $14,197)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Missouri State University are 9.5% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($10,428 vs. $11,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than Northwest Missouri State University (99% vs. 95%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 49.7% larger than aid received Northwest Missouri State University ($12,552 vs. $8,387)
Northern Illinois vs. Northwest Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or Northwest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Northwest or Northern Illinois .
- The average SAT score at Northwest Missouri State University (1047) is 18 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
- Incoming Northwest students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
- Accepted freshman Northwest students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
- Northwest has a higher acceptance rate (85.6%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)
Northern Illinois vs. Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or Northwest? 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 Northwest and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than Northwest Missouri State University (56% vs. 49%)
- Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $6,400 more per year than Northwest graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $41,200)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $1,141 lower median federal student loan debt than Northwest graduates. ($23,859 vs. $25,000)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than Northwest graduates. ($246 vs. $258)
- More Northwest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 61%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/