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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 | Spring Arbor University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northern Illinois | SAU | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Spring Arbor, MI | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 15,649 | 2,396 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | #501 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | arbor.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | SAU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $31,020 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $31,020 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,420 | $10,652 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $22,375 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $20,677 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 99% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | SAU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,961 | 2,312 | ||
| Admitted | 18,348 | 1,094 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | 47.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 20.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.61 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 20/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 970/1135 | ||
| 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 | SAU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | SAU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $42,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $24,043 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $248 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | SAU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 23% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 77% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | SAU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 13% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | SAU | ||
| 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 SAU based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 2,396 students)
Northern Illinois vs. SAU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or SAU?
- Spring Arbor University is 216.9% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($31,020.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 216.9% higher at SAU than Northern Illinois University ($31,020.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than SAU ($13,884 vs. $22,375)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spring Arbor University are 7.2% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($10,652 vs. $11,420)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University as Spring Arbor University (99% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Spring Arbor University students is 64.7% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($20,677 vs. $12,552)
Northern Illinois vs. SAU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or SAU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SAU or Northern Illinois .
- The average SAT score at Spring Arbor University (1073) is 44 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
- Incoming SAU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
- Accepted freshman SAU students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
- Northern Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (70.7%) than SAU (47.3%)
Northern Illinois vs. SAU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or SAU? 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 SAU and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is the same as at Spring Arbor University (56% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $5,000 more per year than SAU graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $42,600)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $184 lower median federal student loan debt than SAU graduates. ($23,859 vs. $24,043)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than SAU graduates. ($246 vs. $248)
- More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SAU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/