Northern Illinois vs. University of St Francis

Should I go to Northern Illinois University or University of St Francis? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Northern Illinois or University of St Francis 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.

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Northern Illinois University vs. University of St Francis comparison
Northern Illinois University University of St Francis College 3 College 4
Northern Illinois University University of St Francis
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Overview

Northern Illinois University of St Francis
Location Dekalb, IL Joliet, IL
Setting Small Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 15,649 3,297
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #454 #339
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website niu.edu stfrancis.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northern Illinois University of St Francis
Tuition (In State) $9,790 $36,000
Tuition (Out of State) $9,790 $36,000
Room & Board $11,420 $11,430
Avg Net Price $13,884 $18,560
Avg Grant Aid $12,552 $25,392
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Northern Illinois University of St Francis
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,961 2,198
Admitted 18,348 1,284
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 58.4%
Enrolled % 13.3% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.47
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 19/25 21/30
SAT Range 940/1170 1030/1240
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 University of St Francis
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (41%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Psychology (3%)

Outcomes

Northern Illinois University of St Francis
Graduation Rate 56% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,600 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,859 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $246 $258

Diversity

Northern Illinois University of St Francis
% Men 46% 26%
% Women 54% 74%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 57% 67%
% Black 16% 8%
% Hispanic 15% 16%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Northern Illinois University of St Francis
% In-State 93% 93%
% Out-of-State 5% 4%

Campus

Northern Illinois University of St Francis
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 University of St Francis based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 3,297 students)

Northern Illinois vs. University of St Francis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or University of St Francis?

  • University of St Francis is 267.7% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($36,000.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 267.7% higher at University of St Francis than Northern Illinois University ($36,000.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than University of St Francis ($13,884 vs. $18,560)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Illinois University are 0.1% lower than costs at University of St Francis ($11,420 vs. $11,430)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of St Francis than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of St Francis students is 102.3% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($25,392 vs. $12,552)

Northern Illinois vs. University of St Francis Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or University of St Francis? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of St Francis or Northern Illinois .

  • The average SAT score at University of St Francis (1069) is 40 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
  • Incoming University of St Francis students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
  • Accepted freshman University of St Francis students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
  • Northern Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (70.7%) than University of St Francis (58.4%)

Northern Illinois vs. University of St Francis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northern Illinois or University of St Francis? 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 University of St Francis and Northern Illinois.

  • The graduation rate at University of St Francis is higher than Northern Illinois University (63% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from University of St Francis earn on average $3,000 more per year than Northern Illinois graduates after ten years. ($50,600 vs. $47,600)
  • Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $1,141 lower median federal student loan debt than University of St Francis graduates. ($23,859 vs. $25,000)
  • Northern Illinois graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than University of St Francis graduates. ($246 vs. $258)
  • More University of St Francis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 61%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/