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 Iowa ISU Western Illinois University DePaul Illinois WMU EIU Bradley University of Wisconsin-Whitewater| Northern Illinois University | University of Northern Iowa | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northern Illinois | UNI | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Cedar Falls, IA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,504 | 9,013 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #488 | #509 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | uni.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | UNI | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $8,396 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $19,940 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,800 | $9,648 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,533 | $15,931 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $13,565 | $5,325 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 74% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | UNI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 24,177 | 4,913 | ||
| Admitted | 17,033 | 4,638 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.5% | 94.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.9% | 33.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.61 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 20/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 860/1210 | ||
| 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 | UNI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | UNI | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 67% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $47,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 72% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $20,625 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $213 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | UNI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 16% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | UNI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 91% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 9% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | UNI | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Illinois University is larger than than UNI based on total student enrollment (15,504 students vs. 9,013 students)
Northern Illinois vs. UNI Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or UNI?
- Northern Illinois University is 16.6% more expensive to attend than UNI for in-state tuition ($9,790.00 vs. $8,396.00)
- Out of state tuition is 103.7% higher at UNI than Northern Illinois University ($19,940.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than UNI ($13,533 vs. $15,931)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Northern Iowa are 32.7% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($9,648 vs. $12,800)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than University of Northern Iowa (98% vs. 74%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 154.7% larger than aid received University of Northern Iowa ($13,565 vs. $5,325)
Northern Illinois vs. UNI Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or UNI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNI or Northern Illinois .
- The average SAT score at University of Northern Iowa (1050) is 21 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
- Incoming UNI students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
- Accepted freshman UNI students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
- UNI has a higher acceptance rate (94.4%) than Northern Illinois (70.5%)
Northern Illinois vs. UNI Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or UNI? 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 UNI and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at UNI is higher than Northern Illinois University (67% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from University of Northern Iowa earn on average $100 more per year than Northern Illinois graduates after ten years. ($47,700 vs. $47,600)
- University of Northern Iowa students graduate with a $3,234 lower median federal student loan debt than Northern Illinois graduates. ($20,625 vs. $23,859)
- UNI graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Northern Illinois graduates. ($213 vs. $246)
- More UNI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 61%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/