Santa Fe College vs. Northeastern Illinois University

Should I go to Santa Fe College or Northeastern Illinois University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Santa Fe College or Northeastern Illinois 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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Santa Fe College vs. Northeastern Illinois University comparison
Santa Fe College Northeastern Illinois University College 3 College 4
Santa Fe College Northeastern Illinois University
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Overview

Santa Fe College Northeastern Illinois University
Location Gainesville, FL Chicago, IL
Setting Midsize Suburban Large City
Enrollment 12,729 5,756
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #629
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sfcollege.edu neiu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Santa Fe College Northeastern Illinois University
Tuition (In State) $1,872 $10,091
Tuition (Out of State) $7,418 $20,182
Room & Board $10,008 $10,742
Avg Net Price $11,380 $14,262
Avg Grant Aid $2,426 $15,143
% Receiving Grant Aid 72% 85%

Admission

Santa Fe College Northeastern Illinois University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 4,603
Admitted - 2,886
Acceptance Rate Open 62.7%
Enrolled % Open 17.9%
Avg High School GPA - 3.1
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/21
SAT Range 810/1010
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Santa Fe College Northeastern Illinois University
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (65%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)
  • Business (2%)
  • Engineering Technology (2%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

Santa Fe College Northeastern Illinois University
Graduation Rate - 23%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,500 $40,000
Making Student Loan Payments 34% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $11,025 $14,500
Median Loan Payment $113 $149

Diversity

Santa Fe College Northeastern Illinois University
% Men 46% 39%
% Women 54% 61%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 58% 33%
% Black 16% 10%
% Hispanic 16% 37%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Santa Fe College Northeastern Illinois University
% In-State 94% 97%
% Out-of-State 2% 2%

Campus

Santa Fe College Northeastern Illinois University
Campus Housing No No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Santa Fe College is larger than than Northeastern Illinois University based on total student enrollment (12,729 students vs. 5,756 students)

Santa Fe College vs. Northeastern Illinois University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Santa Fe College or Northeastern Illinois University?

  • Northeastern Illinois University is 439% more expensive to attend than Santa Fe College for in-state tuition ($10,091.00 vs. $1,872.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 172.1% higher at Northeastern Illinois University than Santa Fe College ($20,182.00 vs. $7,418.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Santa Fe College than Northeastern Illinois University ($11,380 vs. $14,262)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Fe College are 7.3% lower than costs at Northeastern Illinois University ($10,008 vs. $10,742)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northeastern Illinois University than Santa Fe College (85% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern Illinois University students is 524.2% larger than aid received Santa Fe College ($15,143 vs. $2,426)

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

Santa Fe College vs. Northeastern Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Santa Fe College or Northeastern Illinois 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 Northeastern Illinois University and Santa Fe College.

  • Graduates from Northeastern Illinois University earn on average $2,500 more per year than Santa Fe College graduates after ten years. ($40,000 vs. $37,500)
  • Santa Fe College students graduate with a $3,475 lower median federal student loan debt than Northeastern Illinois University graduates. ($11,025 vs. $14,500)
  • Santa Fe College graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Northeastern Illinois University graduates. ($113 vs. $149)
  • More Northeastern Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Santa Fe College students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 34%)

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