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 Western Illinois University DePaul Illinois WMU EIU Bradley University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Loyola Northwest| Northern Illinois University | VanderCook College of Music | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northern Illinois | VCM | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Chicago, IL | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,649 | 263 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | vandercook.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | VCM | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $27,670 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $27,670 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,420 | $7,500 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $12,436 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $27,884 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,961 | 22 | ||
| Admitted | 18,348 | 22 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | 100% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 50% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.1 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 15/20 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 890/1160 | ||
| 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 | Apr 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Northern Illinois | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 4:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | VCM | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 66% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $279 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 43% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 57% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 21% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 58% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 42% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | VCM | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Illinois University is larger than than VCM based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 263 students)
Northern Illinois vs. VCM Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or VCM?
- VanderCook College of Music is 182.6% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($27,670.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 182.6% higher at VCM than Northern Illinois University ($27,670.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at VanderCook College of Music than Northern Illinois ($12,436 vs. $13,884)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at VanderCook College of Music are 52.3% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($7,500 vs. $11,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at VanderCook College of Music than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by VanderCook College of Music students is 122.1% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($27,884 vs. $12,552)
Northern Illinois vs. VCM Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or VCM? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCM or Northern Illinois .
- The average SAT score at VanderCook College of Music (1107) is 78 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
- Incoming VCM students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
- Accepted freshman Northern Illinois students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at VCM (3.1)
- VCM has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)
Northern Illinois vs. VCM Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or VCM? 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 VCM and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than VanderCook College of Music (56% vs. 45%)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $3,141 lower median federal student loan debt than VCM graduates. ($23,859 vs. $27,000)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than VCM graduates. ($246 vs. $279)
- More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 61%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/