Northern Illinois University
A good fit for families looking for lower cost and in-state Illinois residents. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 11,301 students.
About This School
Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois with approximately 11,301 undergraduate students enrolled. Northern Illinois University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 70%. The average net price after financial aid is $13,391 per year. The graduation rate is 49%, and the typical graduate earns $49,800 within 10 years of enrollment.
Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university in DeKalb, Illinois, United States. It was founded as "Northern Illinois State Normal School" in 1895 by Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld, initially to provide the state with college-educated teachers. In addition to the main campus in DeKalb, it has satellite centers in Chicago, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon, Illinois.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at roughly $12,900/year after aid and only $16,250 in median debt at graduation, NIU is genuinely affordable, and its business and engineering programs have solid regional reputations. The concern worth taking seriously is the 50% graduation rate — only half of students who start here finish, which suggests retention challenges that prospective students should ask hard questions about before enrolling. Worth considering if you have a clear major, a plan to stay engaged, and are drawn to a mid-sized public university with a low cost and reasonable earnings outcome around $49,800 a decade out.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 18% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (11,301 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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University of Illinois Chicago
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Illinois State University
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College of DuPage
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DePaul University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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