Northern Illinois vs. Winona State University

Should I go to Northern Illinois University or Winona State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Northern Illinois or Winona State University 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. Winona State University comparison
Northern Illinois University Winona State University College 3 College 4
Northern Illinois University Winona State University
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Overview

Northern Illinois Winona State University
Location Dekalb, IL Winona, MN
Setting Small Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 15,649 6,154
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #454 #533
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website niu.edu winona.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northern Illinois Winona State University
Tuition (In State) $9,790 $8,388
Tuition (Out of State) $9,790 $15,120
Room & Board $11,420 $9,654
Avg Net Price $13,884 $18,187
Avg Grant Aid $12,552 $5,017
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 98%

Admission

Northern Illinois Winona State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,961 5,367
Admitted 18,348 3,958
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 73.7%
Enrolled % 13.3% 29.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.44
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 19/25 19/25
SAT Range 940/1170 1000/1270
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 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Northern Illinois Winona State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

Northern Illinois Winona State University
Graduation Rate 56% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,600 $46,100
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,859 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $246 $248

Diversity

Northern Illinois Winona State University
% Men 46% 30%
% Women 54% 70%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 87%
% Black 16% 2%
% Hispanic 15% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Northern Illinois Winona State University
% In-State 93% 67%
% Out-of-State 5% 31%

Campus

Northern Illinois Winona State University
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 Winona State University based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 6,154 students)

Northern Illinois vs. Winona State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northern Illinois or Winona State University?

  • Northern Illinois University is 16.7% more expensive to attend than Winona State University for in-state tuition ($9,790.00 vs. $8,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 54.4% higher at Winona State University than Northern Illinois University ($15,120.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Winona State University ($13,884 vs. $18,187)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winona State University are 18.3% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($9,654 vs. $11,420)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Illinois University than Winona State University (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Illinois University students is 150.2% larger than aid received Winona State University ($12,552 vs. $5,017)

Northern Illinois vs. Winona State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Winona State University (1050) is 21 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
  • Incoming Winona State University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
  • Accepted freshman Winona State University students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
  • Winona State University has a higher acceptance rate (73.7%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)

Northern Illinois vs. Winona State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northern Illinois or Winona State University? 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 Winona State University and Northern Illinois.

  • The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than Winona State University (56% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $1,500 more per year than Winona State University graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $46,100)
  • Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $141 lower median federal student loan debt than Winona State University graduates. ($23,859 vs. $24,000)
  • Northern Illinois graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Winona State University graduates. ($246 vs. $248)
  • More Winona State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 61%)

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