Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) vs Illinois State

Northeastern Illinois University and Illinois State University, both esteemed public universities in Illinois, offer distinct educational experiences. Northeastern Illinois University, located in the vibrant city of Chicago, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on urban studies, while Illinois State University, situated in the charming town of Normal, excels in teacher preparation and boasts a beautiful campus. With different acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates, these universities cater to diverse student needs. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Illinois State University logo

Illinois State University

Northeastern Illinois University logo

Northeastern Illinois University

Overview

Location Normal, Illinois Chicago, Illinois
Campus setting Suburb: Midsize City: Large
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 83.0% 61.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.5% 62.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
SAT range 1000 - 1200 N/A
ACT range 21 - 27 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 51.0%
Students submitting ACT score 19.0%
Total number of applicants 11,913 3,399
Total number of admissions given out 10,905 2,111
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,374 330
Yield rate 30.9% 15.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $31,811

Out of state: $43,335
In state: $24,985

Out of state: $35,076
Average net price $21,033 $14,133
Tuition
In state: $11,524

Out of state: $23,048
In state: $10,091

Out of state: $20,182
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,494

Meal plan: $4,652
Available payment plans
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

91.0%
Average amount $10,848
78.0%
Average amount $10,529
Students receiving federal student loan 46.0%
Average amount $5,065
15.0%
Average amount $6,215
Students taking out private loans 8.0%
Average amount $14,532
1.0%
Average amount $5,866

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 17,674
Men 43.0% Women 57.0%
4,608
Men 41.6% Women 58.4%
Graduate students 2,559
Men 35.1% Women 64.9%
1,832
Men 32.0% Women 68.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 4.2% 2.4%
International students 2.8% 2.1%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Midsize City: Large
Dormitory capacity 5,560 426
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Illinois Missouri Wisconsin Michigan Iowa Illinois Missouri Wisconsin California Georgia

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Education
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Liberal Arts
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 11:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 67.3% 21.4%
Dropout rate 32.0% 75.4%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,556
  • Year 2: $95,930
  • Year 3: $102,485
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,002
  • Year 2: $64,990
  • Year 3: $78,276
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,303
  • Year 2: $72,884
  • Year 3: $77,896
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,576
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $73,936
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,516
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $73,592
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,000
  • Year 2: $64,791
  • Year 3: $70,358
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,829
  • Year 2: $65,194
  • Year 3: $65,533
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,294
  • Year 2: $54,996
  • Year 3: $64,567
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,313
  • Year 2: $52,781
  • Year 3: $64,241
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,480
  • Year 2: $54,470
  • Year 3: $63,207
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,937
  • Year 2: $77,401
  • Year 3: $85,599
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,326
  • Year 2: $56,544
  • Year 3: $67,702
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,232
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $62,229
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,083
  • Year 2: $56,415
  • Year 3: $57,180
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,637
  • Year 2: $45,383
  • Year 3: $55,124
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,581
  • Year 2: $46,407
  • Year 3: $51,995
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,263
  • Year 2: $43,240
  • Year 3: $49,244
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,577
  • Year 2: $45,500
  • Year 3: $47,512
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,527
  • Year 2: $41,565
  • Year 3: $45,767
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,519
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $45,740

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