Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) vs NorthWestern
Northeastern Illinois University and Northwestern University, both located in the vibrant city of Chicago, offer distinct educational experiences. Northeastern Illinois University, a public institution, boasts an acceptance rate of 88%, making it more accessible to a wider range of students. It is known for its diverse student body, with a significant proportion of Hispanic and African American students. Popular majors include Business, Education, and Social Sciences. On the other hand, Northwestern University, a prestigious private research university, has a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 9%. It attracts students from across the globe, resulting in a more diverse international student population. Popular majors include Engineering, Economics, and Biological Sciences. Both universities offer excellent graduation rates, with Northeastern Illinois University at 48% and Northwestern University at 91%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and goals.
|
![]() Northeastern Illinois University |
![]() Northwestern University |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Chicago, Illinois | Evanston, Illinois |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 61.0% | 99.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 62.1% | 7.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$30
Graduate:
$30
|
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$95
|
SAT range | N/A | 1470 - 1570 |
ACT range | N/A | 34 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 43.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 39.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 3,399 | 47,636 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,111 | 3,321 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 330 | 2,086 |
Yield rate | 15.6% | 62.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price |
In state:
$24,985
Out of state:
$35,076
|
$83,838 |
Average net price | $14,133 | $29,999 |
Tuition |
In state:
$10,091
Out of state:
$20,182
|
$60,276 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$11,271
Meal plan:
$6,993
|
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
78.0%
Average amount $10,529 |
57.0%
Average amount $51,087 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
15.0%
Average amount $6,215 |
23.0%
Average amount $4,625 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $5,866 |
2.0%
Average amount $38,595 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
4,608
Men 41.6% Women 58.4% |
8,847
Men 46.1% Women 53.9% |
Graduate students |
1,832
Men 32.0% Women 68.0% |
14,562
Men 47.3% Women 52.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 2.4% | N/A |
International students | 2.1% | 17.8% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 426 | 4,409 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Illinois Missouri Wisconsin California Georgia | N/A |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 11:1 | 6:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 21.4% | 95.2% |
Dropout rate | 75.4% | 4.2% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (First Professional Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
Medical Illustration and Informatics (Master's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
Community Organization and Advocacy (Master's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.




















































































































