Northern Illinois University (NIU) vs University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL)
Northern Illinois University (NIU) and University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL) are two distinct universities with unique offerings. NIU, located in DeKalb, Illinois, boasts a higher acceptance rate (79%) compared to UMSL's 70%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with NIU excelling in fields like Business, Engineering, and Education, while UMSL shines in Nursing, Social Work, and Criminal Justice. NIU's student body is slightly larger, with a total enrollment of over 15,000 students, while UMSL has a more compact student population of around 12,000. In terms of graduation rates, NIU holds a slight edge with a 58% graduation rate compared to UMSL's 55%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more, allowing you to
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![]() Northern Illinois University |
![]() University of Missouri-St Louis |
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Overview |
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Location | Dekalb, Illinois | Saint Louis, Missouri |
Campus setting | Suburb: Small | Suburb: 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 | 67.0% | 73.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 70.4% | 56.6% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$60
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$50 |
SAT range | N/A | 1020 - 1300 |
ACT range | N/A | 22 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 8.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 50.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 22,602 | 3,054 |
Total number of admissions given out | 15,922 | 1,729 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,285 | 296 |
Yield rate | 14.4% | 17.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $27,218 |
In state:
$30,628
Out of state:
$47,946
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Average net price | $13,265 | $10,525 |
Tuition | $9,606 |
In state:
$11,214
Out of state:
$28,532
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Room & board | $11,098 |
Room/dormitory:
$6,858
Meal plan:
$4,328
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
98.0%
Average amount $13,008 |
96.0%
Average amount $13,438 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
58.0%
Average amount $5,313 |
32.0%
Average amount $4,906 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $11,726 |
4.0%
Average amount $11,359 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
11,834
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
12,347
Men 42.4% Women 57.6% |
Graduate students |
4,400
Men 40.8% Women 59.2% |
2,842
Men 31.8% Women 68.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 15.8% |
International students | 4.6% | 2.5% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Small | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 4,500 | 749 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Missouri Illinois Wisconsin Kansas Georgia |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 15:1 | 14:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 50.8% | 57.6% |
Dropout rate | 46.9% | 39.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
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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Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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