Should I go to Northern Illinois University or Purdue University Northwest? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Northern Illinois or Purdue Northwest 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.
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 NorthwestNorthern Illinois University | Purdue University Northwest | College 3 | College 4 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Northwest | ||
Location | Dekalb, IL | Hammond, Indiana | ||
Setting | Small Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
Enrollment | 15,649 | 8,911 | ||
Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
National Ranking | #454 | |||
Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
Website | niu.edu | pnw.edu | ||
Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Northwest | ||
Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $7,373 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $14,364 | ||
Room & Board | $11,420 | $8,215 | ||
Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $9,162 | ||
Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $7,070 | ||
% Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 75% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Northwest | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
Applied | 25,961 | 5,670 | ||
Admitted | 18,348 | 4,129 | ||
Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | 72.8% | ||
Enrolled % | 13.3% | 31.3% | ||
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 | 950/1170 | ||
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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Northwest | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 15:1 | ||
Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Northwest | ||
Graduation Rate | 56% | - | ||
Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | N/A | ||
Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | - | ||
Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | N/A | ||
Median Loan Payment | $246 | N/A |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Northwest | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
% Men | 46% | 44% | ||
% Women | 54% | 56% | ||
Racial Diversity | High | - | ||
HBCU | No | No | ||
% White | 57% | 0% | ||
% Black | 16% | 0% | ||
% Hispanic | 15% | 0% | ||
% Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
% Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
% Two or More Races | 3% | 0% | ||
% International | 2% | 0% | ||
% Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Northwest | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
% In-State | 93% | 87% | ||
% Out-of-State | 5% | 13% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | Purdue Northwest | ||
Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
Freshman Dorm Required | No | |||
Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
Daycare Facility | Yes | |||
Learn More | Details | Details |
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or Purdue Northwest?
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or Purdue Northwest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue Northwest or Northern Illinois .
Which is better, Northern Illinois or Purdue 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 Purdue Northwest and Northern Illinois.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/