US CollegesGetting in
Northern Illinois University admits 70% of those who apply, which makes it moderately selective. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees for a year | $13,792 |
| Room and meals on campus | $14,680 |
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $29,642 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $14,505 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 16% below the median net price of colleges in Illinois on this site ($17,318). International students normally pay the published tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $12,319 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $11,502 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $13,387 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $20,105 |
| Above $110,000 | $24,295 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | IL median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 70% | 72% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 48% | 53% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $61,351 | $58,865 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $19,555 | $19,684 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Illinois and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
52% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 46% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 53% women and 47% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 8 of the 88 colleges in Illinois on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,667.
Other colleges in Illinois of a similar size
- Loyola University ChicagoChicago, private nonprofit
- Northwestern UniversityEvanston, private nonprofit
- Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, public
- Chamberlain University-IllinoisAddison, private for-profit
- DePaul UniversityChicago, private nonprofit
- Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, public
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Northern Illinois University?
Northern Illinois University admits 70% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Northern Illinois University?
Published tuition and fees are $13,792 a year. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Northern Illinois University?
48% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.