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Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois · Public · 4-year · Suburb

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At a glance

Average net price
$13,391What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
70%
Graduation rate
49%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
11,301
In-state tuition
$13,248Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$13,248
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$57,808Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$13,391

Better than 60% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

49%

Better than 40% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$57,808

Better than 61% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$22,162

Better than 35% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$28,851

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$13,391

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Northern Illinois University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time49%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return70%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$22,162
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$57,808

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Northern Illinois University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer Science$77,257110
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$75,557153
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$74,44241
Industrial Engineering$72,11211
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions$70,65420
Mechanical Engineering$68,069101
Accounting and Related Services$63,74383
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General$62,11756
Finance and Financial Management Services$54,80256
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$54,04715
Business Administration, Management and Operations$52,724109
Marketing$51,137119
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$51,12880
Special Education and Teaching$46,57848
Economics$45,38616
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$45,18440
Mathematics$44,85731
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$44,214146
Chemistry$43,06118
Music$42,83035
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions$41,13926
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$40,58630
Communication and Media Studies$38,49095
Biology, General$38,13766
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$36,40936
Sociology$35,15035
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$34,13641
English Language and Literature, General$34,12247
History$33,28833
Psychology, General$33,150211
Hospitality Administration/Management$32,33716
Political Science and Government$32,22563
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$32,15884
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs$31,899139
Journalism$31,75315
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services$29,91123
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$29,42697
Human Services, General$29,06216
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$28,34263
Fine and Studio Arts$26,79569
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$23,51733
Apparel and TextilesNot reported18
Geography and CartographyNot reported14
AnthropologyNot reported12
Atmospheric Sciences and MeteorologyNot reported11
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported9
StatisticsNot reported9
CriminologyNot reported9
PhilosophyNot reported7
PhysicsNot reported5
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported3
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Engineering, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Air Force ROTC, Air Science and OperationsNot reportedNot reported
Public HealthNot reportedNot reported
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsNot reportedNot reported

All 57 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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