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 logo

Northeastern Illinois University

Northwestern University logo

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%
Common app member 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
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

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
  • Education
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Liberal Arts
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Legal Profession
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)
  • 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
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $150,242
  • Year 2: $188,472
  • Year 3: $221,242
Business/Commerce, General (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $188,472
  • Year 3: $216,176
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $187,194
  • Year 2: $170,971
  • Year 3: $206,288
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $120,709
  • Year 2: $189,565
  • Year 3: $194,961
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $162,478
  • Year 2: $163,561
  • Year 3: $177,652
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $111,200
  • Year 2: $157,779
  • Year 3: $159,304
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $140,321
  • Year 2: $141,586
  • Year 3: $154,556
Medical Illustration and Informatics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,288
  • Year 2: $118,465
  • Year 3: $132,325
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $118,780
  • Year 2: $111,323
  • Year 3: $130,124
Community Organization and Advocacy (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $115,760
  • Year 2: $113,668
  • Year 3: $128,046

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