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ISU Southern Illinois University UIC Western Illinois University COD DePaul Illinois WMU EIU Bradley University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Loyola| Northern Illinois University | Waubonsee Community College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northern Illinois | Waubonsee | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Sugar Grove, IL | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 15,649 | 7,491 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | waubonsee.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | Waubonsee | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $3,168 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $11,304 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,420 | $9,720 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $5,028 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $7,036 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 49% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | Waubonsee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,961 | - | ||
| Admitted | 18,348 | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | Open | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | |||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Northern Illinois | Waubonsee | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | Waubonsee | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $34,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 43% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $6,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $67 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | Waubonsee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 53% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 33% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | Waubonsee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 100% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 0% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | Waubonsee | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Illinois University is larger than than Waubonsee based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 7,491 students)
Northern Illinois vs. Waubonsee Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or Waubonsee ?
- Waubonsee Community College is 6.6% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($10,434.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 15.5% higher at Waubonsee than Northern Illinois University ($11,304.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Waubonsee Community College than Northern Illinois ($5,028 vs. $13,884)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Waubonsee Community College are 17.5% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($9,720 vs. $11,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than Waubonsee Community College (99% vs. 49%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 78.4% larger than aid received Waubonsee Community College ($12,552 vs. $7,036)
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or Waubonsee ? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Waubonsee or Northern Illinois .
Northern Illinois vs. Waubonsee Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or Waubonsee ? 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 Waubonsee and Northern Illinois.
- Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $12,700 more per year than Waubonsee graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $34,900)
- Waubonsee Community College students graduate with a $17,359 lower median federal student loan debt than Northern Illinois graduates. ($6,500 vs. $23,859)
- Waubonsee graduates are paying $179 less per month on federal student loans than Northern Illinois graduates. ($67 vs. $246)
- More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Waubonsee students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 43%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/