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ISU Southern Illinois University CMU UIC GVSU Western Illinois University Oakland WSU Michigan State DePaul Eastern Michigan University Illinois| Northern Illinois University | Western Michigan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northern Illinois | WMU | ||
| Location | Dekalb, IL | Kalamazoo, MI | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,649 | 17,000 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | #634 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | niu.edu | wmich.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northern Illinois | WMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,790 | $14,523 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,790 | $18,154 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,420 | $11,102 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,884 | $20,030 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,552 | $6,813 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 93% |
Admission |
Northern Illinois | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,961 | 20,501 | ||
| Admitted | 18,348 | 17,334 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.7% | 84.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 15.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 19/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 990/1220 | ||
| 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 | WMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northern Illinois | WMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,600 | $48,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,859 | $26,633 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $275 |
Diversity |
Northern Illinois | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Northern Illinois | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 79% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 19% | ||
Campus |
Northern Illinois | WMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Michigan University is larger than than Northern Illinois based on total student enrollment (17,000 students vs. 15,649 students)
Northern Illinois vs. WMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or WMU?
- Western Michigan University is 48.3% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($14,523.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 85.4% higher at WMU than Northern Illinois University ($18,154.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than WMU ($13,884 vs. $20,030)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 2.9% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($11,102 vs. $11,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than Western Michigan University (99% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 84.2% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($12,552 vs. $6,813)
Northern Illinois vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northern Illinois or WMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WMU or Northern Illinois .
- The average SAT score at Western Michigan University (1030) is 1 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
- Incoming Northern Illinois students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at WMU (22)
- Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
- WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)
Northern Illinois vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northern Illinois or WMU? 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 WMU and Northern Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is the same as at Western Michigan University (56% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $1,300 more per year than Northern Illinois graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $47,600)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $2,774 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($23,859 vs. $26,633)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($246 vs. $275)
- More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/