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 IPFW Western Illinois University DePaul Illinois WMU EIU Bradley IU Northwest University of Wisconsin-Whitewater| Northern Illinois University | Purdue University Calumet Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Calumet | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Hammond, IN | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 15,649 | 9,194 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | purduecal.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Calumet | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $6,746 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $16,164 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,420 | $7,560 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $10,908 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $5,703 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 58% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Calumet | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,961 | 2,810 | ||
| Admitted | 18,348 | 1,649 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | 58.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 54% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.19 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 940/1140 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Required | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Calumet | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 0:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Calumet | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 28% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $42,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 38% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $20,908 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $216 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Calumet | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 55% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 13% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 19% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Calumet | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | - | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | - | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Calumet | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Illinois University is larger than than Purdue Calumet based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 9,194 students)
Northern Illinois vs. Purdue Calumet Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or Purdue Calumet?
- Northern Illinois University is 45.1% more expensive to attend than Purdue Calumet for in-state tuition ($9,790.00 vs. $6,746.00)
- Out of state tuition is 65.1% higher at Purdue Calumet than Northern Illinois University ($16,164.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Calumet Campus than Northern Illinois ($10,908 vs. $13,884)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Calumet Campus are 51.1% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($7,560 vs. $11,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than Purdue University Calumet Campus (99% vs. 58%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 120.1% larger than aid received Purdue University Calumet Campus ($12,552 vs. $5,703)
Northern Illinois vs. Purdue Calumet Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or Purdue Calumet? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue Calumet or Northern Illinois .
- The average SAT score at Northern Illinois University (1029) is 69 points higher than at Purdue Calumet (960)
- Accepted freshman Northern Illinois students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Purdue Calumet (3.19)
- Northern Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (70.7%) than Purdue Calumet (58.7%)
Northern Illinois vs. Purdue Calumet Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or Purdue Calumet? 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 Purdue Calumet and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than Purdue University Calumet Campus (56% vs. 28%)
- Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $5,100 more per year than Purdue Calumet graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $42,500)
- Purdue University Calumet Campus students graduate with a $2,951 lower median federal student loan debt than Northern Illinois graduates. ($20,908 vs. $23,859)
- Purdue Calumet graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than Northern Illinois graduates. ($216 vs. $246)
- More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue Calumet students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 38%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/