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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 | Olivet College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northern Illinois | OC Comets | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Olivet, MI | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Distant Rural | ||
| Enrollment | 15,649 | 919 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Church of Christ | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | olivetcollege.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | OC Comets | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $31,664 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $31,664 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,420 | $11,242 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $21,394 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $23,361 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | OC Comets | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,961 | 1,439 | ||
| Admitted | 18,348 | 1,218 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | 84.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 22.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 18/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 910/1120 | ||
| 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 | OC Comets | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | OC Comets | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 46% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $39,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $279 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | OC Comets | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 62% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 38% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 13% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | OC Comets | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 85% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 8% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | OC Comets | ||
| 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 OC Comets based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 919 students)
Northern Illinois vs. OC Comets Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or OC Comets?
- Olivet College is 223.4% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($31,664.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 223.4% higher at OC Comets than Northern Illinois University ($31,664.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than OC Comets ($13,884 vs. $21,394)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Olivet College are 1.6% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($11,242 vs. $11,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Olivet College than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Olivet College students is 86.1% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($23,361 vs. $12,552)
Northern Illinois vs. OC Comets Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or OC Comets? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between OC Comets or Northern Illinois .
- The average SAT score at Northern Illinois University (1029) is 98 points higher than at OC Comets (931)
- Incoming Northern Illinois students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at OC Comets (20)
- OC Comets has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)
Northern Illinois vs. OC Comets Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or OC Comets? 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 OC Comets and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than Olivet College (56% vs. 46%)
- Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $8,300 more per year than OC Comets graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $39,300)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $3,141 lower median federal student loan debt than OC Comets graduates. ($23,859 vs. $27,000)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than OC Comets graduates. ($246 vs. $279)
- More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OC Comets 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/