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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 | Spalding University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Northern Illinois | Spalding | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Louisville, KY | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,504 | 1,555 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #488 | #797 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | spalding.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | Spalding | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $27,450 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $27,450 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,800 | $8,480 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,533 | $25,539 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $13,565 | $17,961 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 99% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | Spalding | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 24,177 | 807 | ||
| Admitted | 17,033 | 796 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.5% | 98.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.9% | 14.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.87 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 16/22 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 853/1103 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
Northern Illinois | Spalding | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | Spalding | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 42% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $45,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 44% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $258 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | Spalding | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 11% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 16% | 41% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 20% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 4% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | Spalding | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 72% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 28% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | Spalding | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Illinois University is larger than than Spalding based on total student enrollment (15,504 students vs. 1,555 students)
Northern Illinois vs. Spalding Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or Spalding?
- Spalding University is 180.4% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($27,450.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 180.4% higher at Spalding than Northern Illinois University ($27,450.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Spalding ($13,533 vs. $25,539)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spalding University are 50.9% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($8,480 vs. $12,800)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Spalding University than Northern Illinois University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Spalding University students is 32.4% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($17,961 vs. $13,565)
Northern Illinois vs. Spalding Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or Spalding? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Spalding or Northern Illinois .
- The average SAT score at Northern Illinois University (1029) is 59 points higher than at Spalding (970)
- Incoming Northern Illinois students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Spalding (21)
- Accepted freshman Spalding students have a 0.57 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
- Spalding has a higher acceptance rate (98.6%) than Northern Illinois (70.5%)
Northern Illinois vs. Spalding Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or Spalding? 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 Spalding and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than Spalding University (56% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $2,300 more per year than Spalding graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $45,300)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $1,141 lower median federal student loan debt than Spalding graduates. ($23,859 vs. $25,000)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than Spalding graduates. ($246 vs. $258)
- More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spalding students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 44%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/