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ISU SIUE UIC Western Illinois University DePaul Illinois WMU EIU Bradley University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Loyola Southeast Missouri State University| Northern Illinois University | Southern Illinois University Carbondale | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Northern Illinois | Southern Illinois University | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Carbondale, IL | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 15,649 | 11,107 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | #467 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | siuc.edu | ||
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Costs |
Northern Illinois | Southern Illinois University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $9,638 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $9,638 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,420 | $10,622 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $16,990 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $11,269 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 98% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | Southern Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,961 | 9,771 | ||
| Admitted | 18,348 | 8,940 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | 91.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 17% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.24 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 19/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 900/1140 | ||
| 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, 2025 |
Academics |
Northern Illinois | Southern Illinois University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | Southern Illinois University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 44% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $47,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 51% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $22,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $232 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | Southern Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 49% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 51% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 64% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | Southern Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 81% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 17% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | Southern Illinois University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Illinois University is larger than than Southern Illinois University based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 11,107 students)
Northern Illinois vs. Southern Illinois University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or Southern Illinois University?
- Northern Illinois University is 1.6% more expensive to attend than Southern Illinois University for in-state tuition ($9,790.00 vs. $9,638.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.6% higher at Northern Illinois than Southern Illinois University Carbondale ($9,790.00 vs. $9,638.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Southern Illinois University ($13,884 vs. $16,990)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are 7.5% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($10,622 vs. $11,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than Southern Illinois University Carbondale (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 11.4% larger than aid received Southern Illinois University Carbondale ($12,552 vs. $11,269)
Northern Illinois vs. Southern Illinois University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or Southern Illinois University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Southern Illinois University or Northern Illinois .
- The average SAT score at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (1032) is 3 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
- Incoming Northern Illinois students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Southern Illinois University (22)
- Accepted freshman Northern Illinois students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Southern Illinois University (3.24)
- Southern Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (91.5%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)
Northern Illinois vs. Southern Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or Southern Illinois University? 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 Southern Illinois University and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than Southern Illinois University Carbondale (56% vs. 44%)
- Graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn on average $200 more per year than Northern Illinois graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $47,600)
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale students graduate with a $1,359 lower median federal student loan debt than Northern Illinois graduates. ($22,500 vs. $23,859)
- Southern Illinois University graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than Northern Illinois graduates. ($232 vs. $246)
- More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 51%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/