Morehead State vs Northern Illinois University (NIU)
Morehead State University and Northern Illinois University, both public institutions with rich histories, offer distinct educational experiences. Morehead State, nestled in the scenic Appalachian foothills of Kentucky, boasts a close-knit community and a focus on undergraduate education. Northern Illinois, located in DeKalb, Illinois, is a larger research university with a diverse student body and a wide range of academic programs. While both universities offer a variety of opportunities for students to succeed, they differ in acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comparison table below to discover which university better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Morehead State University |
![]() Northern Illinois University |
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Overview |
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Location | Morehead, Kentucky | Dekalb, Illinois |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | Suburb: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 70.0% | 67.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 89.8% | 70.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$30
Graduate:
$30
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Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$60
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SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 6,922 | 22,602 |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,218 | 15,922 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,184 | 2,285 |
Yield rate | 19.0% | 14.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$23,984
Out of state:
$28,628
|
$27,218 |
Average net price | $10,471 | $13,265 |
Tuition |
In state:
$9,082
Out of state:
$13,726
|
$9,606 |
Room & board | $10,040 | $11,098 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
97.0%
Average amount $10,376 |
98.0%
Average amount $13,008 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
55.0%
Average amount $4,964 |
58.0%
Average amount $5,313 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $9,199 |
5.0%
Average amount $11,726 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
8,312
Men 38.7% Women 61.3% |
11,834
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
Graduate students |
670
Men 37.6% Women 62.4% |
4,400
Men 40.8% Women 59.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 0.7% | 4.6% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Suburb: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 3,315 | 4,500 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Ohio Tennessee Virginia Illinois | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 15:1 | 15:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 44.8% | 50.8% |
Dropout rate | 53.6% | 46.9% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Engineering Technology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Curriculum and Instruction (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
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Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
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