Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Northern Illinois University is a public national university located in Dekalb, Illinois. Northern Illinois University is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Northern Illinois University is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $52,792 10 years after enrolling, 23rd in Illinois, and in the top 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Northern Illinois University bachelor students earn 3% more than the national average. Northern Illinois University is ranked 10th in Illinois.
Northern Illinois University’s median net annual cost of $13,956 and average years to graduate of 4.6 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Northern Illinois University sorted by number of graduates - Registered Nursing, Psychology, Business Administration, Medical Prep, Comms & Media Studies, Accounting - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$13,956
Average years to graduate
4.6
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #55
Economic score: 1.28
Computer Science
Rank: #136
Economic score: 1.73
Finance
Rank: #57
Economic score: 1.84
Quantitative methods Mgmt.
Rank: #39
Economic score: 2.2
Marketing
Rank: #72
Economic score: 2.39
Biology
Rank: #69
Economic score: 3.23
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: #32
Economic score: 3.24
Education
Rank: #100
Economic score: 4.4
Human Development & Family
Rank: #37
Economic score: 6.18
Fine & Studio Arts
Rank: #90
Economic score: 6.87
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Northern Illinois University - Business Administration, Education (subject specific), Educ. Administration, Special Education, Computer Science, Public Administration - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Accounting
Rank: #97
Economic score: 0.26
Registered Nursing
Rank: #120
Economic score: 0.36
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #44
Economic score: 0.37
Health & Fitness
Rank: #12
Economic score: 0.39
Dietetics/Nutrition
Rank: #4
Economic score: 0.43
Educational media design
Rank: #32
Economic score: 0.48
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #115
Economic score: 0.77
Music
Rank: #43
Economic score: 1.03
Student Counseling
Rank: #185
Economic score: 1.04
Public Health
Rank: #159
Economic score: 1.51
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.6 years. 59% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Northern Illinois University is 5% lower than the state average, and 8% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Northern Illinois University, Pell Grant recipients represent 43% of the measured graduating class, 8% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Northern Illinois University graduates within 4.8 years.
Northern Illinois University is in the top 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Northern Illinois University’s economic mobility score of 33.96 is calculated by adjusting the 1.92 economic score of lower-income students by the 43% pell grant recipients within the student body. Northern Illinois University’s EMS of 33.96 ranks in the top 10% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 10%
The average Title IV recipient at Northern Illinois University pays $13,956 a year, $13,446 less than the $27,402 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $13,956
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Northern Illinois University, 98% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $13,956 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 59% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,236. This is 5% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,313
Pell grants
$4,647
State grants
$5,110
Institutional grants
$5,696
Northern Illinois University offers 7 online bachelor programs, all of which are hybrid format. At the master’s level Northern Illinois University offers 14 programs, 2 of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
21
Hybrid programs
19
Percentage of programs online
16%
Northern Illinois University's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 70% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 22,602 applicants, of which 15,922 were admitted and 2,285 enrolled. Northern Illinois University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Northern Illinois University does not consider standardized testing in their admissions process.
Full time
91%
83%
Female
53%
59%
First time
53%
59%
In-state
93%
68%
1st generation
38%
35%
White
48%
52%
Black
19%
14%
Hispanic
21%
15%
Asian
6%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
5%
12%